POWELL RIVER, B.C. – The Powell River Regional District has received some grant funding for a backup electrical power installation at its maintenance facility.
The funding comes from the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund and is worth $25,000.
Having the backup emergency system installed will allow the maintenance facility to be used as a satellite Emergency Operations Centre during major disasters in the region.
“Our emergency plan has identified that we do need backup facilities for lots of potential eventualities in case we cannot use our main offices, and that’s part of where the emergency or disaster may be (taking place),” said Manager of Emergency Services for the RD, Ryan Thoms.
“Just having extra facility space like what we have at the maintenance facility, where we have a lot of our equipment tools and staff already (is a plus). Having backup power there will give us that comfort that we have a little bit of redundancy if and when we need it.”
Thoms said the grant application was submitted earlier this year, at the beginning of February.
Installation of the backup power source is set to be completed by this fall.
