Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador fund flood mitigation projects

ST. JOHN'S, Nov. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Flooding is Canada's costliest and most frequent natural disaster. Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced close to $1 million in federal funding to Newfoundland and Labrador under the National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) for three flood risk mapping projects.

Minister Goodale was joined by the Honourable Graham Letto, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, who announced close to $1 million in matching provincial funding for these projects.

This funding will support three mapping projects: 

• Dam Break Flood Inundation Mapping of Municipal Water Supply Dams;
• Humber River Communities Climate Change Flood Risk Mapping Study, and;
• Exploits River Communities Climate Change Flood Risk Mapping Study. The funding will also be used to update the Badger Ice Progression Flood Warning Model.

The maps will help guide emergency planning and responses, as well as inform advice to property owners, municipal planning, real estate development, construction design requirements, and climate change adaptation.

The Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial and territorial partners on a disaster relief approach that will allow us to better identify, plan for, and reduce the impact of weather-related emergencies and natural disasters on Canadians.

Quotes

"Floods are getting more severe, more frequent, and more damaging. This is a threat not only to the safety of our communities, but to our economic stability.  The Government of Canada is determined to reduce these risks in partnership with provinces and territories.  The projects announced today will provide the tools to help Newfoundland and Labrador better protect the safety of our citizens, prepare for, and respond to flooding."

? The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"To ensure the safety and well-being of residents living near the Humber and Exploits rivers and near municipal water supply dams, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has committed significant funding to these three mapping projects. We are pleased to work in collaboration with our federal partners to mitigate the effects of flooding on citizens, businesses, and communities."

? The Honourable Graham Letto, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, Newfoundland and Labrador

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada cost-shares up to 50 per cent of eligible expenses for provincial projects and 75 per cent of eligible expenses for territorial projects.
• The total federal share for these projects, which are currently already underway, is $980,000.
• The NDMP reflects an investment of $200 million over five years, of which $183 million is available for cost-shared, merit-based projects with provinces and territories to reduce the impacts of natural disasters.
• Since the launch of the NDMP in 2015, the NDMP has approved funding for 273 projects across Canada that are helping to build safer, more resilient communities.
• Through the NDMP, the Government of Canada is helping to address rising flood risks and costs and build the foundation for informed investments that could reduce, or even negate, the effects of flood events.
• In addition to investing in provincial and territorial flood mitigation projects through the NDMP, the Government of Canada:
• is investing in public awareness activities and risk and resiliency tools like the Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines, to help all levels of government to make informed decisions around flood mitigation;
• has created a new $2 billion federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to support the infrastructure required to deal with the effects of a changing climate; and
• is integrating climate resilience into the National Building Code and conducting research to factor climate resilience into the design of buildings.
• 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?and that the annual economic cost of disasters around the world has increased five-fold since the 1980s.   Flooding damage has accounted for 80 per cent of federal disaster assistance payments over the past 20 years.
• Studies have demonstrated that when structural and non-structural investments are implemented in concert, the result is a 6:1 return on investment.

Associated Links

• National Disaster Mitigation Program
• FloodReady
• Federal Flood Mapping Guidelines

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada