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Features
Updated 2021/3/18
Flood Preparedness
brought to you in part by
BRITISH COLUMBIA - SCORE C+ Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
WT - Covid 19 Impact -Public health orders in 2020 prioritized pandemic response over flood response. At-risk property owners were advised to make evacuation plans, as physical distancing requirements would not be waived for sandbagging crews. Assuming that Covid-19 measures and physical distancing specifically remain in force, has your government considered alternative measures to deal with emergency flooding?
The common goal of any emergency response, be it flooding or a pandemic, is to protect the health and safety of people in British Columbia. Last year, in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Emergency Management BC developed “COVID-Safe Flood Guidelines” to help guide local governments in COVID-safe flood preparedness activities.
The pandemic makes the work of emergency managers more challenging, as it has in all aspects of our society. However, Emergency Management BC and the BC Wildfire Service are working with the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Office to overcome these challenges, by incorporating new techniques and practices into their planning to help protect the health of workers. This includes physical distancing during wildfire training, and procedures for the filling of sandbags.
Emergency Management BC also has the ability to pre-position flood control assets in communities that may need them. In addition, the Emergency Support Services (ESS) Program can continue to be delivered in a COVID-19 environment, ensuring the health and safety of those delivering and receiving ESS.
If a Local Government or First Nation orders an evacuation, the Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) tool allows evacuees to self-register online or by phone. This registration process is easy and allows the evacuee to practice safe physical distancing.
Each local authority has also been instructed to review local emergency and business continuity plans, and any effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will be taken into account with respect to preparations and response measures for other emergencies or disasters.
Please visit Spring Flooding Response - COVID-19 Guidelines
WT - Climate change and its related extreme weather events significantly increase the threat and unpredictability of flooding. What are the main measures your government put in place to deal with these increased risks?
B.C. supports several major flood prevention and emergency preparedness projects and funding programs with the goal of making British Columbians more resilient to disasters. For example, communities have been able to access funds through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, intended to help enhance the resilience of local governments, First Nations and communities in responding to emergencies, including managing flood risk.
In December 2020, BC also launched the Adaptation, Resilience and Disaster Mitigation (ARDM) program, investing up to $56.25 million in structural and natural flood mitigation projects across the province.
As well, B.C. is working on a new climate preparedness and adaptation strategy, in partnership with all levels of government, Indigenous peoples, and other partners. Preparing for and reducing flood risk is an important part of that strategy. The Province has also been working to modernize the Emergency Program Act (EPA) legislation, with a focus on risk reduction.
This builds on work done since October 2018, when B.C. became the first Canadian province to adopt the Sendai Framework – one of its key tenets is an “all of society” approach to emergency management with an emphasis on disaster risk reduction.
WT - British Columbia floods are mostly caused by heavy rain and rain on snow (flash flood), freshet (melted snow), high tides and strong winds (storm surge), and ice jams. The province has an Integrated Flood Hazard Management program that includes such measures as river forecasting and land management. Yet, in 2020 Grand Forks residents launched a proposed class action lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court alleging provincial government forestry mismanagement and negligent logging caused devastating flooding in 2018. How does your government intend to address these kinds of issues in the years to come?
The government cannot comment on matters before the courts.
WT - According to your website, when a natural disaster occurs, the BC government may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the DFA program may compensate individuals for essential uninsurable losses and/or reimburse local governments for damaged infrastructure. Does the DFA include the cost of evacuation when an authorized government official orders the evacuation of people or animals? Can you give us an estimate of the total amounts claimed under the DFA in recent years?
Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) helps to replace or restore essential items and property that has been destroyed or damaged to their pre-disaster condition. The Emergency Support Services (ESS) program, delivered by local emergency programs, provides supports directly to evacuees during an evacuation. This includes: provisions for lodging, food, incidentals. DFA amounts in recent years (2017-2021): $36.8M.
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