National Disaster Mitigation Program renewed!

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Local governments and First Nations in B.C. stand to benefit from the renewal of a flood mitigation funding program.

The federal government is proceeding with the renewal of the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) for new projects to help communities understand and invest in reducing flood risk. The Province will provide funding through Emergency Management BC (EMBC) to support the program’s extension and new intake, pending final federal approvals.

“Our government remains committed to helping communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as floods,” said the Hon. Mike Farnworth, BC's Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “This program reflects the importance of planning and preparation in emergency management. It also demonstrates a commitment to invest in mitigation activities before floods occur to reduce the social and economic costs of responding to and recovering from floods.”

As part of this renewal, $25 million will be available nationwide for projects that must be completed by March 31, 2022.

Eligible proposals for the new intake may be submitted under the following categories:

• Stream 1 – Risk Assessments;
• Stream 2 – Flood Mapping;
• Stream 3 – Mitigation Planning; and
• Stream 4B – Investment in Non-Structural Mitigation.

The five-year, $200-million nationwide NDMP program ended in March 2020. It funded 82 projects in B.C. with a total value of $46 million.

With an early January timeline for proposal submissions from B.C. to Public Safety Canada, this intake has a compressed intake deadline of Jan. 7, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) for eligible entities to submit project proposals to EMBC for the sixth and final NDMP intake. Applicants must submit their project proposals and additional supporting documentation to the EMBC Disaster Mitigation Unit via email at: embcdisastermitigation@gov.bc.ca

Learn More:

National Disaster Mitigation Program:
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/mrgnc-mngmnt/dsstr-prvntn-mtgtn/ndmp/index-en.aspx

More details and information on how to apply can be found at: www.gov.bc.ca/disastermitigationfunding.

Eligible entities:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/policies/109_bcdmp_eligible_applicants.pdf

PreparedBC is British Columbia's one-stop shop for disaster readiness information. For tips on how to prepare an emergency plan and what to include in an emergency kit, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/PreparedBC

For tips on how to stay safe, follow Emergency Management BC on Twitter: @EmergencyInfoBC 

Backgrounder:

• Since inception in 2015, the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) has funded 82 flood risk reduction projects in B.C.
• The Government of Canada cost shares up to 50% of eligible expenses for provincial projects. The federal government contributed $22 million and the British Columbia government contributed more than $16 million in funding for these projects to date. Provincial and territorial authorities may redistribute funding to eligible entities, such as municipal or other local governments.
• According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, insured damage in 2016 topped $4.9 billion, passing the previous annual record of $3.2 billion set in 2013. The annual economic cost of disasters around the world has increased five-fold since the 1980s. Flooding damage has accounted for 80% of federal disaster assistance payments over the past 20 years.
• A January 2020 program evaluation of the NDMP demonstrated that for every $1 invested in mitigation efforts, $7 to $10 can be saved in response and recovery costs.
• Risk assessment, flood mapping and flood forecasting are critically important. These activities provide local governments and First Nations with the knowledge required to move forward with non-structural and small-scale structural mitigation measures.