Federal contributions for emergency preparedness projects under JEPP will end at March 31, 2013 as will federal funding provided under JEPP for Urban Search and Rescue and for Critical Infrastructure initiatives. The original objectives of this program, namely, to enhance local emergency preparedness and response capacity, have been met.

Be assured that funding continues to be in place for all approved 2012-13 JEPP and HUSAR projects. Program staff in the Recovery and Funding Unit at Emergency Management BC will continue to support and administer those JEPP and HUSAR projects that were recently approved.

If for any reason your approved project will not be going ahead as planned and there will be surplus funds, please inform our office immediately so we may redirect these funds to other local government projects that are on our waitlist. As this is the last year for JEPP funding, we want to ensure that all available money can be put to good use in BC.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) New Initiatives Fund (NIF) program was established by the federal government in 1988 and is managed and coordinated by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS). This program is an arrangement with federal search and rescue departments, managing departments and agencies, and the provinces/territories to encourage projects that support the objectives of the National Search and Rescue Program.