Improving emergency preparedness with new regulations

VICTORIA -

Summary

• New regulations give local governments clarity over emergency-planning responsibilities
• Regulations are part of a phased implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act

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Municipalities and regional districts in B.C. will have modernized requirements for emergency-management planning in their communities when new responsibilities under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act come into effect.

The new requirements were developed following provincewide engagement with the public and local authorities. They will come into force in January 2027. The eight-month window gives local authorities time to get ready for their new responsibilities.

As local authorities develop risk assessments and emergency-management plans, it will make communities more resilient and better able to withstand natural and climate-caused disasters, such as wildfires, floods and earthquakes.

Vital role in making communities safer

The act, which came into effect in November 2023, recognizes the crucial role local governments play in each phase of emergency management: preparation, mitigation, response and recovery.

The new requirements mean that local authorities must complete emergency-management plans, business continuity plans and hazard-risk assessments, in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous governing bodies.

Support for local governments

Local governments are on the front lines of emergencies and are working to deliver emergency services to people in their communities.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is developing support for municipalities and regional districts as they prepare for new requirements under the act. It is expected to include guidance to help local authorities prepare risk assessments, emergency-management plans and business continuity plans that align with the act.

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