CANADA, August 20 - The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and funds projects that support First Nations and local governments to better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from hazards in a changing climate.

Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia will receive $909,000 from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund through the Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning stream as follows:

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District – Developing a public notification plan
Regional partners: Port Alberni, Tseshaht First Nation, Hupacasath First Nation
Amount: $120,000

Burnaby – Evacuation route planning for the neighbourhood of Edmonds
Amount: $30,000

Chawathil First Nation – Evacuation route planning and mutual aid exercise
Amount: $29,800

Fraser Valley Regional District – Evacuation plan for the Hemlock Valley neighbourhood
Amount: $30,000

Harrison Hot Springs – Evacuation planning
Amount: $22,850

Leq’a:mel First Nation –Evacuation route planning
Amount: $28,500

Mission – Evacuation route and public notification plan
Amount: $29,500

Nanaimo Regional District – Regional public notifications and evacuation route plan
Regional partners: Parksville, Qualicum Beach
Amount: $88,500

Nelson – Strengthening public notification processes and evacuation readiness
Amount: $30,000

North Saanich – Saanich peninsula alert notification plan
Amount: $30,000

Nuxalk Nation – Evacuation route and public notification update
Amount: $30,000

Saulteau First Nation – Regional public notification and evacuation route planning
Regional partners: Chetwynd, West Moberly First Nations
Amount: $90,000

Snuneymuxw First Nation – Emergency public notification and evacuation route planning
Amount: $30,000

Spallumcheen – Emergency communications plan
Amount: $30,000

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District – Regional emergency public notification plan
Amount: $30,000

Thompson-Nicola Regional District – Evacuation route review
Amount: $30,000

Tl’azt’en Nation – Evacuation route planning
Amount: $27,500

Tofino – Emergency notification and outreach plan
Amount: $30,000

Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation (Pavilion) – Evacuation route planning
Amount: $22,500

Wells – Public notification and emergency route plan
Amount: $30,000

Williams Lake First Nation – Regional evacuation route planning
Regional partners: Cariboo Regional District, Williams Lake
Amount: $89,850.00

Yekooche First Nation – Public notification and evacuation route planning
Amount: $30,000