The Comox Valley is one of 19 communities to receive funding from the province to develop and upgrade emergency evacuation route plans and public notification plans.

鈥淩ecent wildfires in remote regions of B.C. have put communities at risk of being cut off from the rest of the province, highlighting the need for good, advanced planning to ensure residents are able to evacuate safely,鈥� said Bowinn Ma, minister of emergency management and climate readiness. 鈥淲e also know that First Nations and local governments have the most up-to-date information to provide to people to keep them safe. These funds will help ensure British Columbians can leave the area safely when a disaster hits, and will improve emergency notification, alerts and communication to people during emergencies.鈥�

More than $880,000 is being provided through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) to communities to develop and update plans, such as local emergency-alerting systems, that provide information to people in the event of an emergency.

The Comox Valley Regional District will receive $150,000.

鈥淭he Comox Valley Regional Evacuation and Public Notification Planning project supports regional and mutual-aid partners to co-develop evacuation plans and public notification systems that are grounded in traditional knowledge and technical data,鈥� said Cari McIntyre, emergency planning co-ordinator, Comox Valley Emergency Program. 鈥淭his knowledge will support numerous project partners to work collaboratively on identifying, developing and informing regional communication and geographical pathways that support the safe movement of those who live, work and play in this area.鈥�