MacLeod MP John Barlow says they want municpalities around the Foothills getting involved with their new National Disaster Mitigation Program. Photo - Russell Skeet.

The Federal Government is looking for proposals on their new National Disaster Mitigation Program.

MacLeod MP John Barlow says at first they wanted the program to look at all manner of disasters, but given recent history he says that's changed.

"We really changed the focus of this program directly to deal with flood. In our community and the riding of MacLeod, that's pretty significant. So I'm pretty happy to see the focus of this program go to flooding and I think this will be a real benefit to communities in MacLeod."

The plan spreads $200 million around the country for municipalities to do things like update their flood mapping and other flood readiness and mitigation planning.

Barlow says that would be particularly helpful here in the Foothills.

"Having to deal with the consequences of the 2013 flood and how we're going to develop around these communities. And to do that we need up to date flood maps and we just don't have that. And I think this is a great opportunity to address what was a real shortfall in our planning moving forward."

Barlow says they'll be asking each province to contribute to the fund as well as they'll need to be involved in any flood prevention planning for municipalities too.