BC NDP MLA Steve Morissette says people in Warfield will be better prepared for disasters thanks to climate resiliency project

BC NDP MLA Steve Morissette says new provincial funding for a local project means Trail will be better able to withstand and adapt to natural hazards and climate-caused disasters.

“The Trail Creek Flood Mitigation Plan will provide the Village of Warfield with a comprehensive, climate informed approach to reducing flood and erosion risks,” said Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay–Monashee. “It will help guide future investments and support resilient, sustainable solutions that protect the community.”

The Village of Warfield: Trail Creek Flood Mitigation Plan is receiving $350,000. The Trail Creek Flood Mitigation Plan for the Trail Creek corridor within the Village of Warfield includes an infrastructure risk assessment, a bank erosion and geohazard assessment, an ownership and jurisdiction assessment, and the development of a suite of flood mitigation options, both structural and non-structural. The Plan will provide a comprehensive, climate-informed framework to reduce flood and erosion risk and guide future investment and implementation.

Across B.C., 10 communities are receiving approximately $18 million for projects. The projects will help reduce the impact of future climate disasters by addressing current vulnerabilities and by supporting informed planning and decision making.

The new Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding (DRIF) program provides support to First Nations and local governments for projects that will enhance their ability to withstand and adapt to natural hazards and climate-caused disasters.

Since 2017, provincial emergency management funding programs have provided approximately $586 million for approximately 3,000 disaster preparedness and mitigation projects.