INDIANAPOLIS (WLKI)-Gov. Mike Braun is urging Hoosiers to take steps to prepare for severe weather expected to affect parts of Indiana this week.
Braun's warning comes during what officials describe as one of the state's most active severe weather seasons in recent history.
Indiana has recorded 81 tornadoes so far this year, including 58 tornadoes in June.
Braun is encouraging residents to make sure their families have multiple ways to receive emergency weather alerts and know where they would go for shelter if severe storms threaten their communities.
"Indiana has seen an active severe weather season, and this week's forecast is a good reminder that preparation matters," Braun said.
Residents are also encouraged to prepare emergency kits containing at least three days of nonperishable food and at least three gallons of water per person.
Braun is reminding Hoosiers to establish a family emergency and communication plan and make sure everyone in the household knows what to do during severe weather.
The governor also stressed the dangers of flooding, telling residents never to walk or drive through floodwaters and instead find another route.
The latest forecast comes as Indiana continues recovering from severe weather that affected much of the state earlier this summer. Following June storms that produced numerous tornadoes and widespread flooding, Braun declared a state disaster emergency covering 63 counties.
The state worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assess damage from those storms, and Braun submitted a formal request for a presidential disaster declaration in an effort to obtain additional federal assistance for affected communities.
Indiana's Emergency Operations Center continues to operate around the clock and remains prepared to assist counties during severe weather events.
Braun said residents cannot prevent severe weather, but preparation can help reduce the risk to people and property.
Hoosiers can find additional severe weather preparedness information through the state's GetPrepared.IN.gov website.