Township receives $22,490 to bolster emergency operations capacity

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News release
For immediate release

 

Esquimalt, BC— The Township of Esquimalt has been awarded $22,490 as part of the province’s Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. The funding is targeted at IT equipment for township’s forthcoming emergency operations centre (EOC).

EOCs are the centralized location of emergency response and recovery support operations during incidents, from natural disasters to public safety emergencies. New IT equipment will include laptops, large screens and other audiovisual support.

“Proper IT equipment is crucial when it comes to not only connecting with responders on site of an emergency, but also with the public and our government partners,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “This funding will help ensure our new EOC has the capacity to serve our growing community and we appreciate the province’s support.”

The EOC is part of the new Public Safety Building that is slated for completion in 2024. The centre will be purpose-built to accommodate the needs of not only the township but also be an added resource to the region should mutual aid be necessary.

In addition, the centre will be used for emergency preparedness and response training, like regional exercises, to build capacity among staff and volunteers.

Esquimalt staff submitted an application for funding earlier this spring. There will be other emergency-related grant opportunities for the township throughout the year as applications in other streams come available.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and supports programs that strengthen the resilience of First Nations communities, local governments and residents.

More information

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Media contact

Tara Zajac
Manager of Communications
250-414-7122
[email protected]