Provincial flood officials were in Brandon on Tuesday, meeting with municipal leaders from western Manitoba.
Significant flooding is expected in the Westman region in the spring, particularly along the Assiniboine River.
The province said it wants to make sure communities have all the information they need to fight the flood.
Emergency officials in Brandon said they are preparing for some of the worst flooding in recent memory.
"It's critical. Obviously, if we just ignore it or pretend it's not going to happen then we're going to have an awful lot of wet things around," said Brian Kayes, from the City of Brandon's emergency management team.
Nearly $2 million is being spent to build new dikes and to raise existing ones in Brandon.
The province is also taking steps. Officials plan to draw the Shellmouth Reservoir down to record low levels within weeks, so it can hold more water when flooding hits in the spring.
"We're more prepared and (have) more tools than ever before," said Steve Topping from Manitoba Water Stewardship.
"Regulating how much flows -- where it comes in, how much comes in, is very significant not only for Winnipeg but also here," said Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick in Brandon.
- with a report from CTV's Jeremy Hunka
