A provincial grant to the City of Richmond will be used to upgrade technology in order to deal with the aftermath of a wide-scale emergency.
The $23,400 grant the city received is part of $4.2 million being given out to local governments and First Nations communities across the province.
“While the city already has a strong emergency response system in place, we face the reality of dealing with constantly changing – and often expensive – technology and the need to be less reliant on traditional paper-based technology in the event of a major disaster or emergency,” explained city spokesperson Clay Adams.
This grant will support our move to obtain the equipment necessary to create a more mobile and robust technology solution.
The funds allow the city to buy necessary equipment, such as mobile devices, printers, Wi-Fi hubs and generators, to “create a more mobile and robust technology solution,” Adams elaborated.
“This will assist with documentation management and reduce errors which will improve quality and ensure greater accountability and consistency with regards to client experience, tracking, submissions and reimbursements,” he added.
Emergency Management BC has transitioned to a digital platform to support evacuees impacted by floods and fires.
The system was tested during recent flood evacuations near Williams Lake and in the Kootenays, and then was launched provincially.
The platform allows evacuees to self-register online rather than having to come in-person to the reception centre, ensuring physical distancing during the pandemic.