Storms in Indiana Leave Many Without Power and Prompt Legal Action

In Gary, Indiana, residents like Shatiya Hardin endure the aftermath of severe storms. The storms hit northwest Indiana starting August 11, resulting in fatalities and displacing about 1,000 people. They brought record rainfall, causing floods that devastated several communities.

The storms left more than half of Gary’s population without electricity. U.S. Census data indicates that about one-third of Gary’s residents live in poverty. Hardin described the dire situation, noting their struggle with heat and the needs of children and elderly people dependent on electricity.

As of the latest update, over 30,100 customers of the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) remain without power. Initially, the storms affected 374,500 customers. Workers are removing fallen trees and other debris, which contributed to the outages. The storms highlighted Gary’s vulnerability, as many streets are left dark and dangerous at night.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA for 54 counties. He believes the damages could exceed $5 billion. With this declaration, Indiana expects more resources to aid recovery efforts.

In response to the crisis, residents have turned to community centers for respite and essentials like hot meals and phone charging stations. Meanwhile, legal actions have emerged against NIPSCO. A class-action lawsuit claims the utility failed to maintain clear vegetation around power lines, leading to outages. NIPSCO disputes these allegations, asserting an increased budget for vegetation management since 2016.

Gary Mayor Eddie Milton emphasized the need for better emergency management and accountability from utility providers. The city’s government aims to improve response strategies for future incidents.