B.C. ministers urge residents to have go-bags, insurance before floods and wildfires [Video]

The B.C. government says residents should start preparing for wildfire and flood season with go-bags and insurance, as emergency response officials watch the snowpack and drought levels across the province.

The coming spring runoff and the prospect of extreme heat or rain events could lead to flooding in some regions, though officials also say the snowpack is lower than average and there is “potential for prolonged drought this year.”

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the province could see an active spring wildfire season due to drought conditions and warns of higher fire risk unless there’s “significant and sustained” rainfall in the near future.

Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the severity of the upcoming wildfire season is unknown, but agreed it will likely be affected by ongoing drought conditions.  

He says the wildfires in California earlier this year were a “stark reminder” of fire’s destructive powers, and that B.C. residents should “do their …