Thousands in northwest Indiana remain without power nearly two weeks after storm

More than 20,000 customers in northwest Indiana remained without electricity Sunday, nearly two weeks after a powerful storm system damaged homes, trees and utility infrastructure across the region. Northern Indiana Public Service Co., or NIPSCO, said outages continued in Gary, Portage, Lake Station and Munster. Gary had been among the hardest-hit communities, with more than 10,000 customers still without service Sunday, according to local officials and utility updates. NIPSCO estimated that a majority of customers in Gary and Portage could have power restored by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 — two weeks after the initial storm. The utility said restoration estimates could change as crews assess damage and complete repairs. The outage began after severe weather moved through northern Indiana on Aug. 11. Winds reached roughly 99 mph in parts of the region, knocking down trees, poles and power lines. NIPSCO said the storm initially affected about 301,000 customers, or more than 60% of its electric customers. Additional storms over the following days contributed to a total of about 338,000 outages between Aug. 11 and Aug. 16. In Gary, NIPSCO said approximately 300 distribution poles and 44 transmission poles required repair or replacement. The scale of the damage has made the restoration effort more than a routine outage response, the company said. “Across the region, crews are working 24 hours a day to repair and rebuild infrastructure damaged by this historic storm,” NIPSCO said in a statement. The utility has brought in outside crews and other resources to support the work. The prolonged outages have disrupted daily life across the region. Residents have sought hot meals, charging stations and temporary shelter, while some families have faced spoiled food, a lack of air conditioning and difficulty keeping medicines refrigerated. Gary’s public schools have also remained closed because of the continuing effects of the storm and power loss. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun criticized NIPSCO’s response Sunday, saying the company had sufficient resources to restore service more quickly. Braun said the Indiana National Guard and state personnel had been mobilized to help clear roads and support recovery operations. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton has also urged faster action, saying residents are frustrated and exhausted after spending days without basic electric service. NIPSCO has rejected suggestions that some neighborhoods were being overlooked, saying the duration of outages reflects where the storm caused the most severe damage. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security reported 98,824 power outages statewide as of 2 p.m. Aug. 18, with most concentrated in northwest Indiana. The agency said seven people had died in storm-related incidents since the weather system began on Aug. 11, including fatalities in Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties. Residents dealing with remaining outages are being advised to stay away from downed power lines and treat every line as energized. NIPSCO said customers should report downed lines immediately to emergency services and the utility. For many northwest Indiana residents, the immediate concern remains the same: when the lights will come back on. NIPSCO’s latest estimates point to Tuesday as a key restoration target for the hardest-hit communities, but individual customers may remain without service longer depending on the damage at their homes or on nearby lines.