The State Emergency Service and state and federal governments have funded the grant equally.

The money will assist with evacuation and planning arrangements, as well as the Flood Safe education campaign.

SES Grampians regional operations manager Kendra Clegg said Horsham and surrounds had been identified as one of eight high-risk areas in Victoria.

“In co-operation with key partners such as Victoria Police, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, we’re going to improve flood evacuation procedures,” she said.

Ms Clegg said Horsham was identified after a case study on flood profiles.

“It will allow us to do evacuation planning to pre-empt not only flood risk, but what routes we will use for evacuation,” she said.

“We will be able to work out more clearly which houses will be at risk of inundation.

“It will assist in understanding timeframes around floods and making sure that the SES is providing more timely warnings.”

Ms Clegg said the money would also be spent on improving the service’s annual Flood Safe Week.

“We spend a lot of time at SES increasing community awareness about the risk of floods,” she said.

“We teach people what they can do as a community or household to minimise effects on their property.” 

The funding is part of $13 million of project grants for Victorian organisations associated with natural disasters.

Ambulance Victoria will receive $3.4 million to improve training in mass casualty triage.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industries will receive $2.4 million for bushfire risk projects.

The Country Fire Authority will get more than $500,000 for bushfire safety projects.

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said it was an important announcement for the electorate.

“It’s important that state and federal governments work together to assist communities that are hit by natural disasters,” he said.

“In our case we’ve had fires and floods.”