Cowichan Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation Plan

Emergency Management Cowichan (EMC) is developing a regional plan to strengthen disaster and climate resilience across the Cowichan Valley — and your input can help shape it.

What is the Cowichan Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Adaptation (DRRCA) Plan?

The DRRCA project builds on the findings of the 2024 Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA). The HRVA identified 15 key hazards in the region, including flooding, wildfire, drought, extreme heat, landslides, and severe storms. It also highlighted shared risks, infrastructure dependencies, and opportunities for better coordination among local partners.

The DRRCA Plan will put these findings into action by identifying practical steps that communities, governments, and partners can take to reduce risks and improve their ability to respond to and recover from disasters. The plan follows British Columbia’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA), which encourages proactive, collaborative, and inclusive approaches to building resilience.

Through this process, Emergency Management Cowichan, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD), member municipalities, First Nations, and community organizations are working together to:

• Identify practical actions that can help communities build resilience to disasters and climate impacts
• Encourage collaboration between local governments, First Nations, and community partners
• Provide guidance for planning and policies that consider future disasters and climate impacts
• Share information to help residents and organizations understand local hazards and take steps to be ready

By bringing these efforts together under one regional plan, the DRRCA project will create a shared roadmap to increase resilience across the Cowichan Valley.

The plan is currently under development and is scheduled for completion by June 2026.

Learn More about EDMA

Read the HRVA Report

Take the DRRCA Public Survey

Your experiences matter. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts in our quick, anonymous 5–10 minute survey. Your input will help us better understand local hazards and what residents, businesses and communities need to stay safe and resilient.

Take the DRRCA Public Survey

Stay informed and follow updates about the DRRCA project on PlanYourCowichan.ca and through Emergency Management Cowichan’s social media channels.