A powerful derecho storm that swept through Northwest Indiana on August 11, with wind gusts reaching up to 99 mph at Gary/Chicago International Airport, left thousands of Gary residents without power for nearly two weeks. The storm, characterized by straight-line winds comparable to a Category 2 hurricane, caused widespread damage, uprooting trees and snapping power poles across the city.
More than 20,000 customers were affected by the outages, which led to significant hardship for residents. Without air conditioning during sweltering heat, senior citizens requiring medical equipment faced critical challenges, and families struggled with spoiled food and the theft of generators. Life in Gary came to a literal standstill as businesses closed and communication became difficult.
As power was restored to neighboring communities, Gary residents experienced extended delays, prompting some to attribute the lack of power to systemic racism. However, Pastor Corey Brooks of Project H.O.O.D., who visited Gary to provide aid, stated that while he understood the frustration, blaming race is not a solution.
NIPSCO, the local utility company, reported that the derecho caused historic damage across Northwest Indiana, including approximately 300 damaged distribution poles and 44 damaged transmission poles. The utility explained that power restoration follows a standard order, prioritizing major lines to restore service to the greatest number of customers safely and efficiently. This engineering-based approach, rather than bigotry, is cited as the reason for the phased restoration.
The prolonged outage has raised questions about the adequacy of tree-trimming practices and grid preparedness. A proposed lawsuit alleges negligence, while NIPSCO disputes these claims, stating it has increased spending on vegetation management.
In the wake of the storm, numerous nonprofits and churches, including Project H.O.O.D., provided assistance to Gary residents, distributing essential supplies and hot meals. Brooks announced plans to open a second Project H.O.O.D. location in Gary, offering workforce development, youth mentorship, and reentry programs. He emphasized that the disaster revealed the community's resilience and capacity for mutual support, suggesting that focusing on these strengths, rather than solely on systemic issues, is crucial for the city's long-term rebuilding and progress.