Spring flooding doesn’t look like it will be much of an issue, but dry weather has already made for a busy wildfire season, and Manitobans are being told to have a plan in case of emergency.

This week is Emergency Preparedness Week, and the theme is ‘Be Emergency Ready.’

Infrastructure minister Ron Schuler said this morning, whether it’s summer or winter, we always have to be prepared.

“Drinking water – it was pointed out you should have at least four gallons of water per person per day; non-perishable foods – for instance, canned goods, granola bars, stuff like that; do you have a medication plan? You know, don’t allow your puffers to get to the end and then find that you get into an emergency and don’t have your puffers,” said Schuler.

Schuler reminds residents that an emergency alert test will occur this Wednesday.

“At 1:55 p.m., the Alert Ready system will issue a test, which will for the first time will include delivery to complete wireless services.”

Schuler also recommended, with the dry weather and increased risk for wildfires, cutting the grass around your home, removing litter and other combustibles, and cutting grass in ditches as well.

“Get rid of any debris around – dead shrubs, that kind of stuff that could be incendiary. It’s not in the farmers’ fields that we’re having the problems. It’s in areas where normally we don’t cut the grass: ditches, and along railways.”

The City of Winnipeg says its fire and paramedic service responded to five wildfires over the weekend. Two men were found suffering from severe burns when fire crews fought a small brush fire in a field on Regent Avenue on Friday. Both died of their injuries.