Residents north of Winnipeg on the Red River were forced to flee their homes as ice jams forced floodwaters over dikes earlier this month. (CBC)

Owners of flooded property should learn within weeks, rather than months, whether the Manitoba government will offer to buy them out.

Emergency Measures Minister Steve Ashton said the province has learned lessons from the aftermath of the flood of 1997.

"Post-'97 it wasn't that the right things weren't done, but it took too long to get around to doing it," he said. "One of our concerns … is just on the mitigation side — to move as quickly as we can for the next flood season. We don't want to be in the same situation again next year."

'One of our concerns … is just on the mitigation side — to move as quickly as we can for the next flood season. We don't want to be in the same situation again next year.'— Steve Ashton, Manitoba's emergency measures minister

As soon as the present flood is over, the province will consult with reeves and other municipal officials about whether to provide increased protection or offer buyouts.

St. Clements Mayor Steve Strang is calling for at least 17 homes along the Red River to be bought out in that community.

The cost of building protective dikes around the homes, coupled with the cost of compensating homeowners for the damage, nearly adds up to the same price to buy the homes outright, Strang said.

"You have to learn that you can't keep doing the same thing time and time again," Strang said.

Not only are there concerns about mould issues in some rebuilt homes, Strang said, pointing out the risks emergency officials face when trying to rescue stranded residents.

'Buyouts are definitely an option. They should know that right now.'— Premier Gary Doer

Premier Gary Doer said he hopes to make the buyouts voluntary instead of mandatory, and echoed Ashton's comments about doing it as soon as possible.

"Doing it earlier is better. It's more painful because it's right after the event, but it's better than waiting too long and having people make other plans without knowing this is an alternative," the premier said. "Buyouts are definitely an option. They should know that right now."

Doer said any offers would be made based on the recommendations of municipal leaders in St. Clements and St. Andrews, once details are worked out with the federal government.

Federal Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan is in Winnipeg this week to tour some of the flooded areas.

Buyouts after 1997 flood

There were 63 homeowners bought out after 1997. They were primarily in the rural municipalities of Morris, Franklin and Ritchot, all south of Winnipeg.

Following the 1997 flood, the government spent millions of dollars on improving flood protection between Winnipeg and the international border. This year, areas north of Winnipeg were hit hard.

As many as 200 homes north of Winnipeg were damaged — some destroyed — by massive chunks of ice on the April 11-12 weekend.

The fast-flowing Red River slammed into metre-thick ice that had been jamming up. The blocked water jumped the banks and created a flash flood that shoved the ice into the riverfront properties in the rural municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements.

More than 40 people, many of whom were stranded on rooftops, had to be rescued by emergency personnel in boats and amphibious vehicles.