The City of Moose Jaw has been selected to receive a portion of funding for flood mapping through the National Disaster Mitigation Program. 

The funding will be provided by both the federal and provincial governments to areas of Saskatchewan that are at the highest risk of flooding. 

"Flood mapping is the first step to increasing the community's resilience relative to flooding," said Patrick Boyle, a spokesperson with the Water Security Agency in Moose Jaw. "So it accurately delineates flood hazards to allow for the implementation of some progressive mitigation measures. That's what flood mapping means."

The City has completed flood mapping in the past, but not since 1974. 

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, said funding invested in proactive planning can save a lot of time and money later on. 

"Cleaning up the mess after the fact is always more painful and more expensive than trying to head off the problem as much as you can in advance. So every dollar that we invest upfront in smart planning to head off floods will save multiple dollars after the fact in dealing with the consequences." 

The Water Security Agency will be responsible for the mapping, at no cost to the City. Moose Jaw is one of 20 Saskatchewan communities to receive a portion of the funding, which also includes Regina, Saskatoon, and Weyburn. 

The most recent major damages from flooding that Moose Jaw has experienced occurred in 2015 during spring break up. The Moose Jaw River breached its banks and flooded Churchill Park. Several homes near the Burger Cabin were damaged and a report from the City of Moose Jaw estimated $7 million in damages to the 7th Avenue Bridge.

Goodale said that with updated flood mapping, Saskatchewan municipalities will be able to make better decisions about where to build. 

"Provincial government, the water security agency, and the local municipalities will all have that data so they will know where the most vulnerable areas are in their respective communities. They will then make use of that knowledge to make zoning decisions. All of those decisions about zoning and about infrastrcture will be based on knowledge and science and facts, rather than just hopes and prayers." 

Other provinces including Ontario are also set to receive funding. 

According to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc, insured damage for severe weather events across Canada reached $1.9 billion in 2018.