The Sq’ewa:lxw (Skawahlook) First Nation is one of over 100 communities receiving emergency preparedness funding, with $24,695 flowing to the nation.
The funding will go to Skawahlook for their emergency support services program and to support resiliency, a B.C. government news release stated. The funding to the first nation, announced June 26, is part of $4.2 million in provincial funding for over 100 local governments and First Nations across B.C. for emergency preparedness in their communities.
Coming from the $69.5-million comunity emergency preparedness fund (CEPF), the funds will go to two main areas. The first is emergency support services, which are short-term, essential supports for people impacted by disasters. The second is support for emergency operations centres, set up by local governments during disasters, as well as equipment and training at the local level.
“In B.C., local and First Nations governments lead the initial response to emergencies and disasters in their communities, and this funding will help give them the tools necessary to make sure everyone in B.C. impacted by an emergency is looked after and kept as safe as possible,” Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth stated in a news release.
In neighbouring Kent, $25,000 was given to the district for a back-up generator project. And in Sts’ailes First Nation, $21, 685 was received for reception centres. Up the Fraser Canyon, Lytton received $11,270 to support modernization and upgrades to emergency support services.
The Fraser Valley Regional District, which stretches from Abbotsford to Boston Bar, received $23,201 to work on ‘modernization preparation and digital literacy capacity development.’
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