Province unveils new flood mitigation program, but concerns for immediate funding arise
The Government of Saskatchewan announced the Flood Damage Reduction Program, a new long-term flood mitigation program Wednesday Aug. 1, is effective immediately.
It’s a change of focus from the province’s previous Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program, as the government said it looks to focus on funding long term projects rather than emergency spending.
“Shifting away from an emergency flood mitigation program to a permanent program allows communities to undertake long-term flood mitigation, reducing the risk of flooding in future years.” Dustin Duncan, the minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency said.
Communities can apply for portions of the $1.5 million the program plans to spend in 2018 until October 30, based on structural projects, mitigation planning, flood plain mapping projects, and hydrologic/hydraulic investigations to develop risk assessments.