Gary, Indiana Power Restored After Severe Storms
More than two weeks after severe storms cut power to numerous residents, electricity and air conditioning have been restored to almost all residents of Gary, Indiana. As of Wednesday afternoon, fewer than 250 utility customers in the city, which has a population of 69,000, were without power according to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO).
NIPSCO stated, “Storm restoration efforts related to the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent weather events are substantially complete.” While there are still limited outages to address, the majority of the service area has seen restoration.
A derecho, characterized by straight-line winds reaching 70 to over 100 mph, caused significant damage on Aug. 11, says the National Weather Service. The storm impacted Indiana and other parts of the Midwest, resulting in extensive power line damage.
NIPSCO reported that roughly 375,000 customers, or 80% of their base, lost power as a result of what they consider as unprecedented damage in their history. By Wednesday night, most of the service area had power restored, with fewer than 250 outages persisting.
The storm also spawned tornadoes, including a 26-mile EF2 tornado affecting both Illinois and Indiana. This tornado, with peak winds of 110 mph, caused damage to structures and vegetation, according to the National Weather Service.
NIPSCO faced criticism for the slow recovery rate. Gary Mayor Eric Melton stated on Sunday, “The current pace of restoration is unacceptable.” Residents shared difficulties, with some taking refuge in cars for air conditioning due to the lack of power.
Concerns were raised regarding potentially delayed service based on the city’s demographics. However, a NIPSCO parent company executive clarified that restoration priorities were based on storm impact, not racial demographics.
Gov. Mike Braun, elected as a Republican in 2024, called for a probe into NIPSCO’s response. “NIPSCO is expected to maintain its systems and restore services efficiently. It has failed,” he commented in a news release on Monday.
President Donald Trump approved a request for a major disaster declaration to assist with recovery efforts.
Indiana tallied seven storm-related fatalities. Notably, Gary is in Lake County, where one death occurred; others were reported in Delaware, Jennings, Porter, LaPorte, and Henry counties.
NIPSCO President Vince Parisi expressed gratitude to the affected. “We witnessed unprecedented damage and appreciate customer patience,” he stated. With power restored, the focus now shifts to ongoing community recovery.