With wildfire season fast approaching, the B.C. provincial government has announced new funding and training for emergency support services in Greater Victoria.
Expanding the training program for emergency support services will ensure that anyone who might have to evacuate from communities around the Capital Regional District will have their needs met, said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
“Last summer’s wildfires showed us that people are ready and willing to help their communities and fellow British Columbians,” Parmar said.
Emergency support services is a provincially funded program that provides temporary essential support, such as accommodation, food, clothing and transportation for families who need to be evacuated. The program is administered by local government and First Nations.
A one-day training session for responders will allow for rapid training of new personnel.
The course provides trauma-informed and culturally safe support in-person or by phone, increasing emergency support services responders in British Columbia.
Along with the increased training, the government has committed $3.27 million through the community emergency preparedness fund to support 100 local projects.
Langford received $26,850 for truck and trailer modifications, and Sooke received $20,705 for emergency support services evacuee registration and assistance team.
The other municipalities in Greater Victoria, including the regional district will receive:
• $30,000 for emergency support services supplies, equipment and training in Colwood
• $17,300 for Esquimalt’s emergency support services regional training workshops
• $30,000 for emergency support services set up and supply inventory in Metchosin
• $29,689.17 for Sidney-Peninsula’s emergency measures organization
• $30,000 for an emergency support services modernization project in Saanich in 2024
• $29,874,29 for emergency support service modernization in Victoria
• $30,000 for View Royal’s emergency support services supplies, equipment and training
• $30,000 for equipment and supplies for a virtual evacuation registration and assistance team in the Capital Regional District.
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