AI Generated Image
Thousands in northwest Indiana still without power nearly two weeks after storm
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Over 20,000 residents in northwest Indiana, including cities like Gary and Portage, remain without power nearly two weeks after severe storms with wind gusts up to 100 mph hit the area on August 11.
- NIPSCO estimates power restoration in Gary by August 25, but frustration is high as many residents rely on shelters and food distribution, and local schools remain closed.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has activated the National Guard and demanded NIPSCO accelerate restoration efforts, while President Trump approved an emergency declaration to enable federal assistance.
- NIPSCO's parent company NiSource described the damage as one of the most complex recovery situations they've faced, involving extensive system rebuilds rather than simple repairs.
- Civil rights leaders, including Bernice King, have criticized the slow response and highlighted concerns about systemic inequity, noting that Gary's predominantly Black population has faced disproportionate neglect.
