By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle

Osoyoos council has unanimously approved an administration request for permission to seek provincial funding to assess the town’s readiness to face emergencies.

Town chief administrative officer Rod Risling told a recent council meeting: “Unfortunately, disasters are becoming commonplace, rather than the exception.”

He said the provincial government has recognized the strain municipalities are under to deal with and plan for emergencies, particularly those related to the effects of climate change. 

And so, a grant program has been created under the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Community Emergency Preparedness Fund Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation stream.   

Risling said the town wants to “partner with the regional district and other municipalities and First Nations in a coordinated project for the region.”

The CAO wasn’t certain about the amount of funding available, but in a written report, he said: “Most applications are generously funded at 100 per cent of eligible expenses.”

The deadline to make applications is Friday, Oct. 4. 

Following the unanimous vote from council in support of applying for the grant, Mayor Sue McKortoff said, “That’s certainly not something we would argue with. That’s a good one.”

According to Risling’s report, “It is … timely for the town … to perform an updated comprehensive emergency risk assessment within the context of new climate projections.”

The grants, available through the UBCM, would fund, “Engage emergency planning professionals to lead exercises and produce plans involving the Regional District, local First Nations and participating RDOS member municipalities.”

Activities funded by the grant would include:

  • Identifying the stakeholders and establishing committees and terms of reference;
  • Identifying and assessing hazards, community risks, vulnerabilities;
  • Incorporating Indigenous knowledge and interests;
  • Ranking risks based on likelihood and analyzing the physical, economic, environmental and social impacts;
  • Identifying vulnerabilities and proposing mitigation strategies;
  • Assessing critical infrastructure and proposing mitigation actions; and
  • Drafting reports and making presentations to councils and others, including public education and engagement.

As for the financial impact on the town, the report emphasizes that the grants are meant to cover 100 per cent of the costs of the assessments.