B.C. Search and Rescue receive massive boost to tackle emergencies

The Government of British Columbia announced on Sunday that it is committing $5 million to B.C. ground search and rescue.

The funding is to help provide essential supports and equipment renewals for the B.C. Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA).

"We are fortunate here in B.C. to have the support of more than 2,500 volunteers across 80 search and rescue groups," said Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness. "These everyday heroes brave the harshest of our province's elements and landscapes to act as a beacon of hope to those who are lost or injured, and the families left waiting at home. I am so proud to announce this funding, which is part of almost $150 million our government has invested in emergency partners and emergency preparedness over the past two years."

The news follows an announcement on March 15, whereby the Province pledged over $80 million in flood protection and prevention, seismic safety, local government emergency preparedness, search and rescue, and fire prevention.

Below is a list of notable public safety and aid search and rescue groups in B.C. that will be receiving funding from the Province.

• Canada Task Force 1 - will be receiving $1 million to go towards replacing aging equipment, maintaining equipment and enabling team skills training.
• Fire Chiefs Association of BC (FCABC) - will be receiving $1 million to aid the development of a provincewide governance framework and a new model for increased equipment purchases and training for teams.
• The Salvation Army (B.C. Division) - will be receiving $700,000 to support the provision and retrofitting of The Salvation Army's mobile feeding vans, as well as the delivery of mass feeding training seminars and emergency social services training for volunteers and emergency program coordinators in local communities.
• Avalanche Canada - will be receiving $500,000: to update its Mountain Information Network by testing, piloting and expanding the network's avalanche-reporting capabilities and snowpack-modelling work.
• The Canadian Red Cross - will be receiving $100,000 to help procure and strategically pre-position disaster relief supplies (cots, temporary shelters, survival blankets, pillows, wool blankets, rain ponchos, hygiene products, etc.) at Canadian Red Cross facilities throughout the province.

According to Chris Kelly, President of the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, this funding will help ease pressures on volunteers and help with the implementation of on-going and future projects.

"We are grateful for this additional support from the Province, on top of the over $9 million in training, equipment and response support last year, and the grant of $10-million to further reduce funding pressures for search and rescue groups across B.C," said Kelly. "The disbursements made to our groups last year had an immediate and profound effect, allowing for major projects to move ahead and for the purchase of required equipment and training. This year's disbursements and the new funding announced will continue to fill gaps and ease pressures on the 2,500 volunteers in the province."