Residents across northwest Indiana are grappling with the aftermath of severe storms that began on August 11, leaving thousands without electricity and displacing approximately 1,000 people. The extreme weather, which included record-breaking rainfall and flooding, has resulted in at least seven confirmed deaths.
For many in Gary, the situation has become increasingly dire. Shatiya Hardin, a local resident, described the conditions as “absolutely horrible,” noting that families are struggling with heat and the needs of vulnerable individuals, including the elderly who rely on electricity for oxygen equipment. “At night we’re sweating, we’re irritable, we have children to look out for,” she said, adding that the area remains in a state of “survival mode” with no power and dark streets.
As of Sunday morning, more than 28,000 customers served by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) remained without power. While this is a decrease from the peak of 374,500 outages during the height of the storm, the slow restoration process has sparked significant public frustration.
In response to the crisis, Indiana Governor Mike Braun requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA on Thursday. The request covers 54 counties, with preliminary estimates suggesting that storm-related losses could exceed $5 billion. The governor noted that the declaration would provide critical resources to accelerate recovery efforts.
Legal action has also emerged, with a class-action lawsuit filed against NIPSCO this week. The suit alleges that the utility provider failed to adequately manage vegetation near power lines, claiming that downed trees were the primary cause of the widespread outages. NIPSCO has formally disputed these allegations, stating that its investment in vegetation management has more than doubled since 2016.
Gary Mayor Eddie Milton acknowledged the ongoing hardship and signaled a shift in local oversight. While the city works to provide hot meals and cooling stations for those affected, the mayor emphasized the need for greater accountability from utility providers. “We’re going to revisit what should we do better from an emergency management standpoint,” Milton stated, adding that he intends to push for stricter utility oversight moving forward.
The impact of the storms has been particularly acute in Gary, where U.S. Census data indicates that roughly one in three residents lives in poverty. With the city’s infrastructure severely tested, officials continue to assess the long-term recovery needs of the displaced population. The report also notes that like so many in Gary, Indiana, Shatiya Hardin has been waiting for the minute her power finally turns back on. The report also notes that the storms brought record rainfall that flooded several communities. The report also notes that we don’t have service in this area at all whatsoever.
