MLA Leonard welcomes $150,000 for flood preparedness in Courtenay

COURTENAY – MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard is welcoming $150,000 in funding from the province to support Courtenay in preparing for and responding to floods.

“The 2010 and 2014 floods caused a lot of hardship for people in Courtenay, and highlighted the need for better flood prevention and mitigation,” said Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox. “This funding will help us reduce flood risks and keep our community safe.”

Courtenay is receiving $150,000 to undertake Phase 2 of its dike replacement and flood protection strategy.

The City of Courtenay is one of twenty-two local and regional governments that are sharing over $3 million in funding from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF).

The CEPF is a suite of programs designed to enhance the resiliency of local governments and their residents. The province provides the funding, which is administered by UBCM and divided into five streams:

  • flood risk assessment, flood mapping and flood mitigation planning
  • emergency support services
  • emergency operations centres and training
  • structural flood mitigation
  • evacuation routes

MLA Leonard said that since the September 2017 Budget Update, communities throughout B.C. have received more than $20 million through the CEPF, and that the New Democrat government is committed to ensuring communities across BC have the tools they need to respond to disasters when and where they happen.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/19740