The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board has decided to support applications for funding from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund in 2019 and 2020 for evacuation route planning in the Squamish Valley, and emergency operations centre training, equipment and flood mitigation planning in the Paradise Valley.
This comes out of the SLRD's June 26 meeting.
The board will also support applications from the Garibaldi and Howe Sound volunteer fire departments for volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training. The SLRD is eligible for $25,000 in funding, which, if granted, will be split between the two departments.
A request for decision provided to the board notes the need for floodplain mapping in the Upper Squamish Valley: "Floodplain mapping updates indicate a significant increase in the threat posed by flooding in this area, and creating evacuation plans based on peak flow predictions requires specialist knowledge."
At a presentation of floodplain hazards in the Upper Squamish Valley this January, residents raised concerns that the new mapping did not include any mitigation measures.
At the next SLRD board meeting, in July, the erosion around the Pilchuck Bridge in the Upper Squamish Valley will be discussed after nuns at the nearby Queen of Peace Monastery raised concerns, as the bridge is the sole connector for the area.
The Chief Administration Officer for the SLRD has also been approved to sign such applications for these grant applications
