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

Indiana residents have endured a ninth day without power as they grapple with survival mode, throwing out spoiled food and lining up for meals. In Gary, schools remain closed following the deadly storm on August 11 that uprooted trees and downed power lines. Citizens turned to social media to locate open laundromats and functional Wi-Fi, while others sought supplies like diapers and cleaning wipes for low-income neighbors.

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. reported that 68,000 customers were still without power as of Thursday morning, the majority of them in Lake County near the Illinois border. Power restoration is expected to be completed by Tuesday in some areas, including Gary, where health concerns rise as many rely on generators, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, and medical devices may lose their charge.

Shatiya Hardin, a long-time hair stylist in Gary, expressed frustration with the lack of progress beyond the initial storm, stating that residents are in perpetual survival mode. Kevin Mejia, a resident of East Chicago, lost power twice; he seeks support from community members, many of whom have requested food following the loss of their groceries.