{
  "id": 3578925,
  "title": "The Lights Are Back On in Gary, Indiana",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/the-lights-are-back-on-in-gary-indiana",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T19:41:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Atlantic",
    "slug": "the-atlantic",
    "url": "https://www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/08/gary-indiana-blackout/688417/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Last night, the utility company NIPSCO finally met the deadline to restore power to the city of Gary, Indiana. The derecho storm that swept through northwest Indiana on August 11 knocked out electricity for over 370,000 residents, with more than half of NIPSCO's customers without power in Gary. The utility had pushed back restoration dates for two weeks, but by the evening of the following day, they had connected 99 percent of customers.\n\nGary mayor Eddie Melton described the ongoing blackout as a crisis facing not just Gary but all of northwest Indiana. However, as power was restored in other parts of the region, the initial inconvenience became a pressing issue in Gary. The city had not been on NIPSCO's restoration schedule initially, and residents resorted to using friends' generators, running cars for electricity, and throwing away spoiled food.\n\nGary residents faced the crisis with limited funds, as the city's median household income is around $40,000 a year, and 20 percent of its population is 65 or older. Relief efforts started to reach the city, but some programs were first come, first served, and limited to one package per household. Elderly residents like Willett Wright, who was still without power, emphasized the urgent need for assistance, stating that many seniors were trapped in their dark, heat-filled apartments with no generators.\n\nThe derecho, a strong windstorm, was different from typical storms, according to climate change experts. Climate change is contributing to an increase in storm frequency and severity, which puts a strain on power grids and exacerbates damage. Gary's infrastructure issues, exacerbated by deindustrialization, were evident even before the storm. The utility monopoly NIPSCO had already been criticized for high rates, and the utility was approved for another rate increase in 2025 to upgrade power lines and technology.\n\nThe blackout's prolonged impact was evident in people's lives. David Rucker and his wife, Tiffany, had to drive to Chicago daily to charge his BiPAP ventilator, which runs only a few hours on battery power. Despite the city's proximity to Chicago, their car's transmission needed repair, making the journey even more difficult. The storm had taken a significant toll on the Ruckers, both financially and emotionally.",
  "summary": "A long two weeks after a derecho blew through, most of the city finally has power.",
  "key_points": [
    "NIPSCO restores power to 99% of Gary residents after August 11 derecho storm",
    "Gary mayor Eddie Melton calls blackout a crisis for northwest Indiana",
    "Elderly residents struggle with limited funds and heat during power outage"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}