Gary, Indiana, Faces Prolonged Power Outages After Devastating Storms
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Gary, Indiana, Faces Prolonged Power Outages After Devastating Storms
- Thousands of residents in Gary, Indiana, have been without electricity for over a week following severe storms that began on August 11, 2026, with Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) reporting 30,134 customers still impacted as of August 22, 2026.
- Indiana Governor Mike Braun has called the situation "unacceptable" and requested an expedited major disaster declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on August 22, 2026.
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Gary, Indiana – Residents in Gary and other parts of Northwest Indiana are entering their second week without power after a series of severe storms, including a derecho, swept through the region starting August 11, 2026. The storms brought powerful winds, reportedly reaching up to 99 mph in some areas, toppling trees, power lines, and utility poles, and causing extensive damage to electrical infrastructure. At its peak, the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) reported approximately 302,000 of its 500,000 electric customers were affected, making it the largest outage event in the company’s history.
As of August 22, 2026, NIPSCO indicated that 30,134 customers remained without power, with many in Gary not expected to see restoration until August 25, 2026. This extended outage has led to significant hardship for residents, including spoiled food, a lack of air conditioning in August heat, and difficulty accessing essential services. Schools in Gary were closed, and residents have been seeking out community centers for meals, charging stations, and cooling.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has publicly expressed his frustration, calling the prolonged outages “unacceptable” on August 20, 2026, and urging NIPSCO management to “step up, take this seriously and restore power now.” Governor Braun also announced on August 22, 2026, that he had formally requested an expedited major disaster declaration for individual and public assistance for 54 counties from FEMA, following an earlier emergency declaration by the Trump administration. NIPSCO has stated that the extensive damage, including around 300 poles and 44 transmission poles needing repair or replacement in Gary, and difficulties in accessing damaged lines, have contributed to the delays.