INDIANAPOLIS — If you thought Thursday was windy, you're in for much more Friday afternoon.
According to the latest forecasts, we could see wind speeds reach 50 to 60 miles per hour from noon to 9 p.m. Friday.
Auboni Hart, with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, said crews will be working 12-hour shifts until Monday night to respond to calls.
"They're going to be out just making sure that our crews are tackling any down trees or just obstruction in the right of way to keep that clear for everyone," Hart said.
AES sent a mass email to customers ahead of the storm with some tips, such as stay away from downed power lines, report your outage and keep your refrigerator and freezer closed if your power goes out.
Duke Energy's Angeline Protogere said they cover more than half of Indiana's 92 counties, and the company is preparing to send crews wherever they're needed.
"We have the ability to move crews from northern Indiana to southern Indiana. We also have the ability to supplement our workforce with contractors, so we have been doing outreach to them to be prepared," Protogere said.
Along with the wind, we could see heavy rain, which forecasters say could cause flooding in some areas. To help prevent that from happening, DPW says you should clear your storm drains if they're covered.
No matter where you live, both Protogere and Hart say you need to be prepared and be safe.
"Before a storm hits, make sure your computer, your cellphone, your electronics are fully charged so that you can get emergency notifications if needed," Protogere said.
For those on the road, Hart encourages drivers to drive safely.
"This is inclement weather, so make sure you're headlights are working and that they're on and that you're driving an extreme amount of caution," Hart said.