Flood and Wildfire Recovery Programs

Flood and Wildfire Recovery Programs

During the 2017 freshet and wildfire season, more than 65,000 people were displaced, more than 1.2 million hectares were burnt and more than $550 million spent on direct wildfire costs. The Province of BC is working closely with First Nations, local authorities and businesses to ensure programs are in place to support those impacted to recover.

If you know of a program or initiative that is not listed here, please contact the Provincial Disaster Recovery Branch.

Individual and Family Recovery Programs

• Call 1 800 863-6582 (Monday to Friday from 8AM to 4PM PT) to make an appointment to visit one of five Red Cross Support Centers.

• Call the Ministry of Children and Family Development at 1 877 387-7027 to access services for children, families and caregivers, including child and youth mental-health services.

• The Re-Entering Your Home after a Wildfire (PDF) guide provides essential steps for you to consider when you and your family return home after a wildfire. 

• Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) can provide answers to individuals and businesses with insurance questions and concerns by calling 1 844 2-ASK-IBC (1 844 227-5422) Monday to Friday from 7AM to 4PM PST. 

• One Step at a Time: A Guide to Disaster Recovery (PDF) takes you step-by-step through what to do after a disaster.

Business and Agriculture Recovery Programs

• The Canadian Red Cross Community Partnerships Program funds projects by community organizations working towards relief, recovery and resilience-building of communities affected by the 2017 wildfires.

  • Application deadline: N/A

  • Funding amount: Representative of need

  • Eligibility: municipalities, non-profit organizations, charities, non-governmental organizations, school boards, faith-based organizations and indigenous peoples’ organizations

• Through funding from and in partnership with the Government of BC, the Canadian Red Cross Support to Small Business Program is providing additional financial assistance to small businesses affected by the 2017 wildfires. For assistance with the application process or to complete your application over the phone, call 1 855 999-3345.

  • Application deadline: May 31, 2018 at 11:59PM (PST)

  • Funding amount: maximum of $18,500

  • Eligibility: support for uninsured financial losses as a result of interrupted business operation

• The 2017 Canada-British Columbia Wildfire Recovery Initiative helps agricultural producers with the extraordinary expenses necessary for recovery and return to production as soon as possible. It provides funding up front and allows for updates as further loss information becomes available.

• The Farm Business Recovery Advisory Services Program assists farmers and ranchers understand the adverse effects of the 2017 wildfires on their current production and financial situation. The program will provide access to basic financial analysis, specialized business planning and coaching services. Full program support will provide up to $5,000 for service from a qualified advisor.

• The 2017 British Columbia AgriStability Enhancement Program allows agricultural producers to enroll late and without penalty into the existing AgriStability program, and includes some enhancements to the program for 2017 only. Application for this program has closed.

• ​Community Futures provides on-the-ground supports for businesses. Businesses having a difficult time managing cash flow, planning for the future, selling their business, or seeking other supports are encouraged to contact their regional/ local Community Futures Office to learn about the range of supports available.
  • Community Futures Offices:

    • Clinton and 70 Mile House can contact Community Futures Sun Country: 250-453-9165 or 1-800-567-9911

    • Cariboo Chilcotin: 250-392-3626 or 1-888-879-5399

    • North Cariboo: 250-992-2322 or 1-877-992-2322

• The Business Ambassador Program supports businesses and non-profit organizations in wildfire affected communities in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and TNRD regions. Business Ambassadors will work from Community Futures offices in Quesnel, Williams Lake and Ashcroft until Oct. 31, 2018 to help businesses access resources to help with wildfire recovery.

• The Northern Development Initiative Trust Business Recovery Competitiveness Consulting Rebate Program provides any business in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Lillooet region impacted by the 2017 wildfires a rebate (75 per cent, up to a maximum of $15,000) toward the hiring of a consultant to help businesses with their recovery efforts. Contact Northern Development Initiative Trust at info@northerndevelopment.bc.ca or 250 561-2525 for more information

• InvestLocalBC is a crowdfunding platform designed for local non-profits to create online forums to fund, support and evolve their initiatives and projects. The standard five per cent fixed funding administrative fee is waived for non-profit organizations, businesses and arts and cultural organizations experiencing impacts from the wildfires. 

Indirect Business Support

• The Province of BC has committed $6.2 million to repair or replace Crown range infrastructure and an estimated 100 km of livestock fencing along provincial highways that was damaged or destroyed by wildfires.

• The Province of BC has committed $200,000 to the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) to provide tourism recovery supports to tourism stakeholders and businesses in the Cariboo Chilcotin and Central Coast areas. An additional $200,000 has been provided to the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Kootenay Rockies Tourism  (KRT) for this same purpose in other parts of the province. If you have businesses that are concerned about drawing visitors to the area post-wildfires, contact the CCCTA, KRT or TOTA.

• Destination BC is working with Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) and Kootenay Rockies Tourism  (KRT) on spring travel promotions for each region.

• Northern Development Initiatives Trust has launched two new programs.

  • The Strategic Initiatives Fund will fund up to $900,000 for broadly-focused strategic initiatives from communities.

  • The Northern Industries Innovations Fund can be accessed by any resource-based company to help fund applied research, proof of concept and other steps involved in innovation development processes.

First Nations Support

Regional government staff has been working closely with First Nations communities to discuss local solutions for community recovery. As with all affected communities, First Nations governments are also working on land-based recovery efforts, including timber salvage and reforestation.

• First Nations Health Authority Environmental Public Health Services provides public health inspection, assessment and advisory services for in-community facilities, including:

  • Residential and public buildings for health and safety concerns.

  • Residential and community drinking water and sewage disposal systems, including inspection and drinking water sampling. Contact the FNHA Environmental Health Officer for your regional area here.

• The Financial Assistance for Emergency Response and Recovery Costs: A Guide for Local Authorities and First Nations (PDF, 971KB) provides local authorities and First Nations in British Columbia with information on the procedures required to maximize claims for financial assistance with the costs of both response and recovery.

Resources for Community Recovery Managers

• The Province has developed a Long Term Food Security Initiatives package (PDF, 3.46MB) designed to provide basic information about a number of initiatives that communities can undertake to independently and locally address long-term food security concerns. The long-term food information package is intended to support educated alternative approaches to long-term food security and to introduce options outside of the normal scope of food sources.

• The Local Authorities and First Nations Recovery Toolkit (PDF, 1.2MB) is intended to guide Local Authorities and First Nations as they plan for disaster recovery, including planning for community recovery, infrastructure recovery, demobilization and debris management.

• The Community Disaster Recovery Guide (PDF 1.7MB) focuses on the economic and psycho-social recovery of small and medium sized communities, and will assist individual communities in the development of recovery plans specific to their needs.

• Chapter 8 of the British Columbia Emergency Management System (BCEMS) Guide (PDF, 2.45MB) offers several models for community recovery in the context of comprehensive emergency management.

• EOC Forms and Templates includes an Expenditure Authorization Form and a Needs Assessment Form, both of which are directly relevant to short-term community recovery.

Additional Resources

• The Canadian Red Cross supports community-driven efforts that promote individual and community recovery and resilience through the Community Partnerships Program. Applications are open to registered charities, not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, schools and school boards, Indigenous Peoples organizations, and faith-based organizations.

• The following mental health and wellness services provide short term emotional support to callers and match people with professional help available locally or elsewhere in the province.

  • Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention - BC Crisis Centres:  If you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial your local emergency telephone number (often 9-1-1).

    • BC Crisis Line: call 1 888-53-2273

    • 1-800 (SUICIDE) or 1 800 784-2433)

    • 310-6789 (no need to dial area code)

  • KUU-US Crisis Line – Aboriginal crisis line (1-800-588-8717)

  • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)

  • BC211