Workers from True Cut Tree Care of Farmington, Michigan, removed a tree from a home’s front yard in Gary, Indiana, following a storm on Aug. 20, 2026. More than 20,000 residents remain without power in northwest Indiana after severe weather hit the area over two weeks ago.
On Aug. 11, wind gusts reaching up to 100 mph caused significant damage. Homes in Gary, Portage, Lake Station, and Munster were still experiencing power outages as of Sunday morning, NIPSCO, the local power company, reported. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton noted that 17,000 citizens were without electricity on Saturday. NIPSCO officials estimate that power will be restored to Gary by Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The situation has led to high frustration among residents. Many are seeking shelter and receiving food from distribution centers. Schools in the city remain closed. Indiana Governor Mike Braun activated the National Guard to support restoration efforts. President Trump approved an emergency declaration, enabling the Federal Emergency Management Agency to aid in recovery.
Governor Braun urged NIPSCO to expedite restoration efforts, saying, “Bring in more crews, put every available resource into the field, get creative, get the job done. Hoosiers have waited long enough,” he posted on social media.
The start of the outage coincided with NiSource Inc., NIPSCO’s parent company, announcing a dividend payout of approximately $140 million to shareholders. Melody Birmingham, executive vice president of NiSource and president of NiSource’s utilities division, described the storm damage as one of the most complex situations faced by recovery crews. Birmingham indicated these are not simple repairs but involve rebuilding entire systems. Typically requiring weeks or months, they aim to achieve this within days or weeks.
Criticism has emerged over the company’s slow response. Civil rights leaders and advocacy groups have highlighted systemic inequity issues, noting that Gary’s population is nearly 80% Black. Bernice King, a civil rights leader, stated the power outage reflects a pattern where residents deserve better than survival. “Black communities have too often been expected to endure conditions that would be treated as intolerable elsewhere,” she posted on social media.
The Indiana branch of the ACLU advocacy group emphasized the importance of swift, equitable disaster relief distribution. “It’s important that, when a disaster happens, the relief reaches every community quickly and equitably,” the group stressed on social media.