Tens of thousands in Indiana are still without power a week after deadly storms

More than a week after deadly storms struck northwest Indiana, tens of thousands of people are still without power, according to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO). Around 75,000 customers, mostly in Lake County, are still without electricity as of the latest reports. The storms, which brought winds of 99 mph, knocked down trees and power lines, leaving a significant portion of the region in the dark.

Gary, a majority-Black city, has been particularly affected by the storms. Roughly 20,000 residents in the city are still without power, and NIPSCO has estimated full restoration will not be completed until August 25. The utility acknowledged that the repairs are complex, involving the replacement of 300 poles and 44 power transmission poles.

Residents in Gary, already struggling with the loss of power, have taken to community centers for hot meals and phone charging. Some are relying on nonperishable food, like soup, to keep their medications cool, as their generator runs on expensive gas. One resident, Jeremy Spurrier, relies on a generator that consumes about $75 of gas per day.

While NIPSCO officials deny that low-income residents are being overlooked, some residents are frustrated by the lack of progress. Jeremy Spurrier and others have reported being repeatedly told their outage reports have been filed, without any resolution. Despite these challenges, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton assured residents that the efforts to restore power are ongoing across northwest Indiana.