Tens of thousands of residents in northwest Indiana were in survival mode Thursday, marking a ninth day without power following a deadly Aug. 11 storm that downed trees and power lines. The widespread outages have forced schools to close, disrupted businesses and strained community resources as Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) works to restore electricity.
As of Thursday morning, NIPSCO reported that 68,000 customers remained without power, primarily in Lake County, which borders Illinois. The utility has restored power to over 306,500 customers since the storm hit, but full restoration is not expected until Tuesday in some areas, including Gary.
The prolonged outage has created significant challenges for residents. In Gary, schools remained closed, impacting thousands of students and their families. Many residents have turned to social media to find resources like open laundromats and working Wi-Fi. Community members have also organized to provide assistance to neighbors in need, distributing food, diapers, and cleaning supplies.
Health concerns are escalating with the duration of the power loss. According to Courtney Page-Tan, an Indiana University Indianapolis professor who studies community resilience, prolonged outages can lead to health risks. These include potential carbon monoxide poisoning from generator use without proper ventilation and dangers associated with spoiled refrigerated food. Individuals reliant on medical devices also face risks if their equipment loses power.
Shatiya Hardin, a hair stylist in Gary, has been unable to open her salon since the storm. She described a sense of weariness among residents, stating, "We’re always in survival mode in Gary. And I think that’s probably why it wasn’t so much of an uproar because the first few days, it was like, ‘OK, we’re used to this .... but this is the second week now." She added, "It’s not OK for us to continually be in survival mode, doing the best that we can."
Some residents, like Kevin Mejia of East Chicago, have experienced power being restored only to lose it again. Mejia, who manages a community Facebook page, said he receives numerous comments from people who have lost hundreds of dollars worth of groceries and are unsure where to turn for help, particularly the elderly.
Despite the difficulties, community groups and volunteers have provided a crucial support system. Raydia Martin, assistant director of the Flourish Community Hub at Flourish Church in Gary, noted the role of these organizations in helping people cope with the uncertainty. "We thrive best, you know, as humans on certainty and predictability," Martin said. "So for something so devastating to happen so quickly, it definitely takes a toll on people mentally."
NIPSCO has described the storm's destruction as "unprecedented and widespread" and has brought in crews from across the country to assist with repairs. The utility stated that "no service territory is the same," acknowledging the unique challenges faced in restoring power.
The school year's start has been significantly disrupted. Gary's school district, with approximately 4,300 students, has been closed since Aug. 13 and will remain so through at least Friday. Portage Township Schools postponed its planned Aug. 12 start and is now aiming for an Aug. 25 opening due to safety concerns related to storm damage.
School closures can have substantial economic impacts on families, especially those living paycheck to paycheck, as parents may miss work due to childcare issues. Page-Tan highlighted that such disruptions can be "detrimental to the stability of a family."
Meanwhile, in Columbus, Ohio, heavy rains and flash flooding occurred independently of the Indiana storm. More than 3 inches of rain fell in 12 hours, leading to flooded roadways and requiring rescues of stranded motorists. Fire officials reported saving a 12-year-old boy who was swept off a bridge by high water. The city was still recovering from weekend thunderstorms when the midweek downpour occurred.