Two weeks after severe storms disrupted power services for thousands in Gary, Indiana, electricity and air conditioning were restored on Wednesday for most residents. The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) reported fewer than 250 customers still lacked power in this city of 69,000. The company updated its website, stating, “Storm restoration efforts related to the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent weather events are substantially complete.” Crews continue addressing individual cases, but overall restoration is completed across the broader service area.
On Aug. 11, a derecho—a powerful storm capable of producing tornado-strength winds—impacted Indiana and the broader Midwest, with straight-line winds reaching 70 to over 100 mph, according to the National Weather Service. This storm caused significant damage, marking NIPSCO’s “worst damage in known company history,” leading to outages affecting 80% of its customer base, approximately 375,000 people. By Wednesday night, fewer than 250 outages remained in other parts of the service area.
The storm included tornadoes, notably a 26-mile-long EF2 twister, which originated in Illinois and reached Indiana, as described by the National Weather Service. It had peak wind speeds of 110 mph and caused roof damage and tree uprooting.
Criticism of NIPSCO’s slow pace in restoring power grew, with Gary Mayor Eric Melton labeling the restoration pace as unacceptable. Residents of Gary, a Rust Belt city located on Lake Michigan’s shore, roughly 25 miles southeast of Chicago, faced challenges such as sleeping in cars with air conditioning on for relief. Calvin Boone, a resident, mentioned the theft of generators in his neighborhood. Another resident, Joetta Walker, who suffers from asthma, reported she couldn’t use her nebulizer without power, thus used an inhaler.
Some residents expressed concerns that Gary, predominantly inhabited by Black people, received restitution later than other areas. However, NIPSCO’s parent company executive stated the outages depended on where the storm hit, not racial or division factors.
Gov. Mike Braun criticized NIPSCO for its service delay, urging an investigation. Having been elected in 2024, Braun highlighted, “Hoosiers pay NIPSCO expecting efficient disaster preparation and service restoration.” Braun further stated President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration, enhancing aid options.
Seven storm-related deaths occurred across Indiana, based on NBC News’s official report compilation. These included one in Lake County (Gary’s locale), two in Delaware County, and individual deaths in Jennings, Porter, LaPorte, and Henry counties.
NIPSCO President and CEO Vince Parisi expressed gratitude for customer patience, stating, “We faced the worst damage, and thousands worked tirelessly to complete restoration. Now, efforts focus on supporting recovering communities.” Parisi’s statement was released on Tuesday.
Drone images capture storm aftermath in various affected regions, highlighting challenges like downtown Noblesville’s floodwaters after prolonged heavy rain.