The funding will be used to procure emergency equipment and mass care group lodging supplies amongst other things
CAMPBELL RIVER – The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has received funding to better support people that have been displaced from their homes during emergencies. The $294,630 grant provided through the 2023 Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) will help communities build up the capacity to better deliver emergency support to people during very stressful situations.
“Our partners with this grant are the City of Campbell River, Ehattesaht First Nation, Homalco First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Nuchatlaht First Nation and the Villages of Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos,” said SRD Chair Mark Baker. “This application shows the importance and value of relationships and comradery in our regional emergency management system.”
Funding will be used throughout the region to:
- Undertake a Hosting with Humility Emergency Support Services Group Lodging Exercise. Strengthening relationships and building the capacity of our regional Emergency Support Services Team to plan with neighbouring First Nations, local governments and Emergency Management Climate Readiness personnel is our goal. Collaboratively we will be better prepared to host communities that have been displaced by a disaster.
- Provide Reception Centre and Group Lodging training sessions to ESS volunteers.
- Procure emergency equipment and mass care group lodging supplies such as seacans for storage, lighting for seacans, outdoor toilets, blankets, 50-year shelf-life canned water, generators, stand-up tents, propane stoves, space heaters, radios, and 25-year shelf life dehydrated food rations.
“Emergency Support Services (ESS) have various skills and resources that can be offered during a disaster and when planned for, can make an invaluable impact by increasing response capacity,” said SRD Protective Services Coordinator, Shaun Koopman. “Being part of the ESS team gives you an opportunity to give back to your community during times of crisis and provides valuable professional development and mentorship. Whether you are interested in deploying, training, administration, or even assisting behind the scenes on your own time, there is a role for you.”
The level of compassionate and sustainable quality care that can be provided to evacuees who have been displaced is directly correlated to the quantity of volunteers in the ESS program. If you are interested in volunteering a minimum of 20 hours per year, learn more about the Emergency Support Services at srd.ca/emergency-support-services or contact SRD’s Protective Services Coordinator, Shaun Koopman at 250-830-6702 or preparedness@srd.ca.
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