Portage Community Comes Together After Devastating Storm

On August 11, Portage resident Janie Gray experienced the terrifying moment when three trees fell on her house during a derecho. “It was pretty scary,” Gray shared, reflecting on the moment as she attended the Portage Strong event at Founders Square on August 22, 2026.

Gray, who has been without power for 11 days, focused on keeping her eight children safe in the aftermath. Her neighborhood faced widespread destruction, and she remarked, “It didn’t even look like my neighborhood. It was so devastating.” Gray described trees falling towards the road and mentioned that she had lost electricity since the storm began.

According to NIPSCO’s outage website, as of 3 p.m. on Saturday, 30,789 customers remained without power, with 3,870 of those in Portage. Gary also had over 17,500 customers without power. The utility company planned to restore power by the end of Tuesday, two weeks after the storm’s 99 mph winds caused extensive damage, including taking out power poles, trees, and postponing the start of the school year.

Following the storm, 301,000 customers initially lost power, with numbers increasing due to multiple rainstorms the following week. NIPSCO declared this outage the largest in its history. In response, organizations rallied to support affected residents. The Chicago Bears pledged $100,000 each to Catholic Charities in Chicago and the Diocese of Gary. Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana donated $100,000 to the Calumet Township Trustee’s Office to assist recovery efforts.

Despite the damages, Gray remains grateful for the safety of her family. “Nobody’s hurt. We’re all safe. I’m grateful to God,” she said. Gray highlighted the resilience of the community, stating, “It doesn’t stop our spirits. It doesn’t stop people from caring about each other.”

Another resident, Daniella Douglas, faced similar challenges. For ten days, her family of six struggled without power, losing food and work hours. Shelter-in-place during the storm was a new experience. Douglas recalled, “The sky just turned green, and the wind started going.” As they surveyed the damage, they saw severe destruction, including crushed golf carts and vehicles.

Andrew and Jessica Law also endured life without full electrical power. Their family relied on a generator confined to one room. Maintaining the generator costs them $50 daily. Jessica shared strategies to keep the family active outside the home, adding, “We get them out of the house whenever possible.”

Mayor Austin Bonta addressed the community during the Portage Strong event. He emphasized that the gathering was not about restored power but about celebrating the community’s response to the crisis. The event supported mental health, provided free meals, and assisted in spiritual recovery for residents.

Wayne Antusas, one of the event organizers, expressed his satisfaction with the turnout, stating, “I feel energized. I think all of us needed this.” Councilwoman Gina Giese-Hurst echoed the importance of volunteering, sharing her experience in aiding those impacted by the storm. “It’s been healing, just watching everybody pull together,” she noted.

Overall, despite the severe storm, Portage showcased its community solidarity through continuous efforts to rebuild and support one another.