‘Survival mode’: Indiana residents endure a ninth day without power

GARY, Ind. (AP) — Tens of thousands of residents in northwest Indiana endured a ninth day without power on Thursday, leading lives in "survival mode," discarding spoiled food, queuing for hot meals and searching for locations to recharge their phones. Schools remained closed in Gary due to the storm that downed trees and power lines on August 11.

The utility, Northern Indiana Public Service Co., reported that 68,000 customers were still without power as of Thursday morning, mostly in Lake County near the Illinois border. Power restoration was expected by Tuesday, but some areas, like Gary, might still be without electricity until then. Health concerns grew daily due to the prolonged outage; generators caused carbon monoxide poisoning risks, and medical devices losing power could pose health hazards.

Courtney Page-Tan, an Indiana University Indianapolis professor, emphasized the growing health concerns and exhaustion among residents. Shatiya Hardin, a hair stylist in Gary, lamented the prolonged outage and the strain on her lower-income neighborhood. Kevin Mejia, a resident of East Chicago, described the repeated power loss and the difficulties faced by the elderly in securing assistance.

Raydia Martin, assistant director of the Flourish Community Hub in Gary, highlighted the need for certainty and predictability during such crises. The utility company, NIPSCO, called the destruction "unprecedented and widespread," and called for assistance from crews across the country. Schools across northwest Indiana remained closed, with Gary's district starting the school year in early August but being closed since August 13.