Indiana prepares for heavy rain from Isaac - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

After a summer-long drought, we know some rain is coming this weekend. There are a few things you can do to make sure your home is protected.

According to SkyTrak Weather, central Indiana could get anywhere from two to six inches of rain if current models hold.

First, clean out gutters. Water can spill over the edge of blocked, broken or clogged gutters and collect around your foundation. Keep outdoor drains clear of leaves and dirt to prevent flooding.

Next, trim back trees. Large limbs can fall onto roofs or cars and cause damage.

Also, check your sump pump to make sure it's working. Eyewitness News spent the day with a plumber to show you how you can be prepared, and why it's so important to do it now.

Lee Ann Fisher showed us the crawl space that leads to the sump pump under her home. It has a history of flooding so if Isaac dumps torrential rain this weekend, she'll keep her fingers crossed.

"The last time we got a lot of rain like that back in 2010 I looked under my house and it was full of water because the sump pump failed," said Fisher.

Plumbing companies say if nothing else, test your sump pump to make sure it can handle an overload of water.

"You can test your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water in the drain and if it's working, it should kick on," said Laura Ciriello-Benedict, certified plumber.

Plumbing companies say older, heavily used sump pumps should be replaced, too.

Lee Ann Fisher will keep an eye on her sump pump and what this weekend's rain could do to her home. But there are also spots around her home she could check, too.

For example, are the trees around the home able to withstand heavy rain? Homeowner Patricia Fagnani noticed dead tree tops and got an arborist to check out several trees around her home.

"I noticed that the tree in the front yard and some in the back were dead at the top and I thought I better get someone to look at them," she said.

Certified arborist Corey Allen says Patricia made the right move.

"Look at this. On the outside the bark looks fine but when you look on the inside of this branch from her tree, you can see it was dying," said Allen.

You should also prepare for heavy rain by checking the caulking around your window and doors. Clear your gutters so rain runs off your roof properly. Learn where the off switch is in your main circuit to prevent getting shocked during flooding, and decrease your pool water level to make room for more during heavy rains.

Although Lee Ann Fisher has had flooding before, she hopes to be prepared for possible rain spurred by Hurricane Isaac.

"I will be watching the rain real close this weekend," she said.