Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond released the following statement on emergency preparedness to deal with current flood conditions facing several regions of B.C.

"Our government is supporting local authorities and First Nations by marshalling necessary resources to respond to flood emergencies wherever they may occur in B.C.

"We have 1,000 Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources (FLRNO) firefighters on standby to sandbag, deploy erosion control devices and assist local governments and their residents in areas affected by flooding.

"There are 9.5 kilometres of gabion baskets (retaining walls) available with 3.3 kilometres already deployed to Prince George. There are approximately two million sandbags available in the provincial stockpile with 800,000 bags deployed to local communities in the past month.

"The Fraser Health Authority is identifying home care clients in unprotected areas needing additional support, and we are monitoring and assessing institutions like the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre and Forensic Hospital that may require additional support during a flood event.

"Our Ministry of Agriculture Emergency Operations Centre in Abbotsford has been fully activated and is supporting farmers in planning for livestock evacuations where necessary.

"Canadian Forces in Edmonton, Esquimalt and Vancouver are on a continuous standing alert should they be needed.

"I have asked Emergency Management B.C. officials to work with local governments and affected residents to help assess appropriate compensation for flood damage through the Disaster Financial Assistance Program as expediently as possible.

"The public can always find more information at www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca."

FACTSHEET

Provincial Flood Preparedness

Resources Available:

Local authorities are the legislated lead in an emergency, but the B.C. government provides assistance through Emergency Management BC's (EMBC) co-ordination role that helps communities connect with the resources they need. The B.C. government provides emergency alerts and information on how to plan and respond to emergencies at: http://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca.

Among the Provincial actions readied or already deployed:

• Cattle liners are at the ready to support livestock movement as necessary, with additional cattle liners on stand-by from the Interior and outside the province.
• There are approximately 9.5 kilometres of gabion baskets available in the provincial stockpile. About 3.3 kilometres have been deployed in Prince George.
• There are approximately two million sandbags available in the provincial stockpile. About 800,000 have been deployed in past month and roughly 200 specially trained wildfire management branch fire-fighters are already lending a hand with sandbagging in communities around the province. 
• There are eight sandbag machines strategically positioned around the province. Two have been deployed to assist with flood mitigation efforts in Mount Currie and Merritt. 
• There are 1,000 Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources (FLRNO) firefighters on standby to help deploy erosion control devices and sandbags and assist local government and residents in areas affected by flooding.
• In addition to hosting regular regional co-ordination calls, EMBC has been connecting with over 20 local authority and First Nation leaders and has senior provincial emergency managers and experts deployed to the regions. 
• When an emergency occurs, EMBC assists with the funding of some emergency services (ie. approved emergency-related construction, evacuation costs, temporary lodging through Emergency Social Services, etc). 
• We are monitoring and assessing institutions like the Ministry of Health Burnaby Youth Custody Centre, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Lab and Forensic Hospital that may require additional support. The responsible agencies are planning, monitoring, some have opened localized EOC's, and those who may shelter in place are ordering supplies as a precautionary measure.
• The Fraser Health Authority is identifying home care clients in unprotected areas needing additional support.
• Ministry Emergency Operations Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture in Abbotsford has been fully activated and is supporting farmers in planning for livestock evacuations where necessary.
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) is engaged in proactive efforts to work with First Nation communities at risk of flooding.
• The Canadian Forces has been engaged with representation in the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre and regional operation centres to help with reconnaissance and situation awareness in case of deployment needs.

Preparation:

• Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC) staff has been engaged with local governments and other partners since April on advanced planning, and several emergency operations centres are now activated in response to floods and flood threat.
• Seasonal Readiness Workshops and spring co-ordination calls were hosted to connect local authorities with technical experts prior to the onset of freshet, and regional staff work closely with communities year-round to ensure that relevant information, training and support is delivered to help prepare, prevent and minimize potential impacts of emergencies.

Investment:

• The Flood Protection Program represents the most significant provincewide investment dedicated to flood mitigation in the last two decades.
• In a proactive measure, the provincial and federal governments partnered to provide $33 million for urgent flood mitigation in 2007. The Flood Protection Program (FPP) that provides at-risk communities in the province with funding for flood mitigation works was established in 2007/08 to administer the B.C. government's commitment to provide $100 million over 10 years. 
• In January 2012, 22 Flood Prevention Programs were funded for 20 communities across B.C. worth $36 million in jointly funded flood mitigation projects; most of these projects are underway.
• To view where flood mitigation investments have been made since January 2012, see our map located at: http://www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca/flood-mitgation-projects.html

Funding History:
Flood Prevention Program # of Projects Approved Project Provincial Share Federal Local Government
FPP 2007/08 41 $9,487,134 $ 9,487,134 $ - $ -
FPP 2008/09 28 $16,035,704 $ 8,227,852 $7,807,852 $ -
FPP 2009/10 16 $ 27,606,738 $ 9,375,353 $ 9,375,353 $8,856,032
FPP 2010 Intake Total 50 $71,506,934 $26,683,675 $22,646,625 $ 22,176,634
FPP 2012/13 (Strategic) 2 $41,500 $36,000 $ - $5,500
Total Commitment FPP Projects 137 $124,678,010 $53,810,014 $39,829,830 $31,038,166
2007 Urgent Mitigation Works 89 $32,897,380 $16,448,690 $16,448,690
Total Commitment to Flood Mitigation 2007-12 226 157,575,390 $70,258,704 $56,278,520 $31,038,166
*The above chart denotes the work of 22 flood mitigation projects across British Columbia. In January 2012, 22 Flood Protection Program (FPP) projects were funded for 20 communities across B.C.; most of these projects are already underway. In the case of Prince George who formally withdrew the project on May 7, 2012, this funding is being reallocated to other eligible projects from the last application process.

Flood Mitigation Project Summary 2007 - 2012
Total projects: 226 projects, combined investment: $157,575,390

Province wide initiatives: 45 projects, combined investment: $17,370,777. These projects included works for assessment, environmental requirements, design and works completed by Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of forests on behalf of the 2007 urgent mitigation initiative.

Cost Sharing Breakdowns:

• The 2007 urgent mitigation works were cost shared equally between the province and federal governments.
• The first year of the FPP (2007/08) was funded solely by the province. 
• In the 2008/09 fiscal year, the province and federal government identified funding for flood protection as a priority for funding under the Building Canada Plan. Almost $50million (federal dollars) has since been dedicated to flood protection.
• Local Government cost sharing was introduced in the 2009/10 fiscal year. This arrangement was a joint decision by the provincial and federal governments to allocate limited funding to as many projects as possible.

Return on Investment:

• Established scientific data provides compelling evidence to support mitigation investment. The United States National Institute of Building Sciences indicates a cost benefit-cost ratio of $4:1 while Australia reports a $3:1 (AU) ratio, the United Kingdom £5:1 and the World Bank $10:1.

Recent Example of Effectiveness:

• The Mission Creek Dike has paid for itself in one year. Last year, $60,000 was spent on response costs and an additional $70,000 for permanent works.
• The construction avoided a further $70,000 clean up costs. The avoidance of flooding this year means that the $70,000 investment has already paid for itself in avoidance of response costs.
• Evaluation of Mission Creek, Kelowna dike, funded through the Flood Protection Program in 2011: "The new dike in the area of the Creekside Pub performed very well and contributed to protecting several business, homes, Lakeshore Rd and associated infrastructure in that area from certain flooding at current levels. Without this work being completed last year, we would be looking at a significant disaster in that neighborhood this morning." Emergency Planning Coordinator at Central Okanagan regional district.

Regional Breakdown:
Abbotsford: 7 projects , combined investment: , $7,129,400
Barnston Island Diking District: 1 project , combined investment: , $555,000
Burnaby: 2 projects , combined investment: $6,003,006
Cariboo Regional District: 1 project, combined investment: $25,000
Central Coast Regional District: 8 projects , combined investment: $4,411,629
Central Kootenay Regional District: 1 projects , combined investment: $60,000
Chase: 2 projects , combined investment: $37,500
Chilliwack: 10 projects , combined investment: $10,303,848
Coquitlam: 2 projects , combined investment: $560,000
Courtenay: 2, projects , combined investment: $720,163
Cowichan Valley Partners: Cowichan Valley Regional District; District of North Cowichan; Cowichan Tribes; City of Duncan: 1 project, combined investment: $7,750,000
Cowichan Valley Regional District: 2 projects , combined investment: $1,131,300
Creston Valley Diking District: 6 projects , combined investment: $2074174
Delta: 7 projects , combined investment: $3,449,120
Dewdney Area Improvement District: 4 projects , combined investment: $6,290,038
District of Mission: 1 project , combined investment: $265,000
Duncan: 1 project, combined investment: $51,040
East Kootenay Regional District: 3 projects , combined investment: $2,999,303
Fraser Valley Regional District: 2 projects , combined investment: $734,000
Fraser-Fort George Regional District: 3 projects , combined investment: $1,823,809
Golden: 6 projects , combined investment: $4,056,840
Grand Forks: 2 projects , combined investment: $454,092
Harrison Hot Springs: 1 project, combined investment: $75,000
Hazelton: 1 project, combined investment: $350,529
Hope: 1 project, combined investment: $152,150
Houston: 7 projects , combined investment: $1,374,891
Invermere: 1 project, combined investment: $95,000
Kamloops: 3 projects , combined investment: $3,048,000
Kaslo: 1 project, combined investment: $25,000
Kent: 5 projects , combined investment: $2,550,100
Kimberley: 1 project, combined investment: $14,097
Kitimat-Stikine Regional District: 3 projects , combined investment: $2,269,330
Town of Lake Cowichan: 2 projects , combined investment: $398,200
Langford: 1 project, combined investment: $1,842,225
Township of Langley: 2 projects , combined investment: $1,829,390
Maple Ridge: 4 projects , combined investment: $2,771,866
Merritt: 1 project , combined investment: $400,000
Mission: 4 projects , combined investment: $2,139,205
New Westminster: 2 projects , combined investment: $174,000
Creston - Nicks Island Diking District: 2 projects , combined investment: $340,000
Nicomen Island Improvement District: 6 projects , combined investment: $1,563,250
North Cowichan: 2 projects, combined investment: $4,173,552
North Vancouver 1, project , combined investment: $428,340
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District: 3 projects , combined investment: $181,500
Pemberton Valley Dyking District: 6 projects , combined investment: $1,091,389
Pitt Meadows: 4 projects, combined investment: $3,143,487
Port Alberni: 1 project , combined investment: $14,824
Port Coquitlam: 2 projects , combined investment: , $3,671,300
Prince George: 4 projects , combined investment: $2,449,919
Princeton: 4 projects , combined investment: $927,000
Qualicum Beach: 1 project , combined investment: $80,500
Richmond: 6 projects , combined investment: $14,373,845
Sparwood: 1 project , combined investment: $16,500
Squamish: 6 projects , combined investment: $3,650,725
Stewart: 3 projects , combined investment: $325,999
Strathcona Regional District: 1 project , combined investment: $185,410
Summerland: , project , combined investment: $752,950
Surrey:, 4 projects , combined investment: $17,608,682
Tahsis:, 2 projects , combined investment: $103,091
Telkwa: 2, projects , combined investment: $368,702
Terrace: 2, projects , combined investment: $2,802,000
Vanderhoof: 3 projects , combined investment: $502,338
Vernon: 1 project , combined investment: $960,000
Williams Lake: 1 project , combined investment: $96,065

Projects cancelled or withdrawn since 2007:
Central Coast Regional District: Bella Coola River Erosion Protection, $20,000.

• Cancelled due to weather conditions and inability to construct within timeframe.

Vanderhoof: Flood Mitigation Works, $1,800,000.

• Cancelled because project could not meet permitting approvals or secure private lands to build the diking structure.

Maple Ridge, Albion Dike Upgrade, Kanaka Creek: $525,000.

• Project cancelled as the new seismic requirements for diking structures that were introduced last year could not be achieved. Federal Government would not reimburse local government for costs incurred.

Prince George River Road Dike: $8,163,000.

• Project cancelled as electorate voted against the bylaw to borrow local government contribution of funding.

Contact:
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961