Gary Power Outages Nearly Resolved After Devastating Indiana Derecho

Utility says broad restoration work is complete after historic storm damage

GARY, Indiana — Power was restored to nearly all customers in Gary on Wednesday, more than two weeks after a violent Aug. 11 derecho and subsequent storms damaged the regional electrical system and left thousands of residents without lights, refrigeration or air conditioning during hot summer conditions.

Fewer than 250 utility customers in the city of about 69,000 remained without service by Wednesday afternoon, according to Northern Indiana Public Service Co., known as NIPSCO. The company said storm-restoration operations were substantially complete, although crews were continuing to address a limited number of individual outages.

“Restoration activities have concluded across the broader service territory,” NIPSCO said in a Wednesday update. By Wednesday night, fewer than 250 outages also remained elsewhere in the company’s service area.

Derecho caused widespread damage across northern Indiana

The prolonged outages followed a derecho that swept through Indiana and other parts of the Midwest on the morning of Aug. 11. The National Weather Service said the system produced straight-line winds ranging from 70 mph to more than 100 mph — gusts capable of causing damage comparable to that of a tornado.

NIPSCO described the destruction as the worst damage in its known history. The utility said roughly 375,000 customers, or about 80% of its customer base, lost power after the storm tore down lines and damaged infrastructure across its territory.

The derecho was followed by additional severe weather, including tornadoes. Federal weather officials reported that an EF2 tornado traveled about 26 miles from Illinois into Indiana, with estimated peak winds of 110 mph. The tornado damaged roofs and uprooted trees along its path.

Residents and officials criticized the length of the outages

Gary residents faced some of the longest restoration waits, prompting mounting frustration with NIPSCO’s response. Mayor Eric Melton said Sunday that the pace of service restoration was unacceptable.

Residents told NBC News that some people slept in running cars to use air conditioning as temperatures remained high. Calvin Boone, 44, said generators had been stolen in his neighborhood. Joetta Walker, 73, who has asthma, said the outage prevented her from using her nebulizer, leaving her dependent on an inhaler.

Some residents also questioned whether Gary, a predominantly Black city on Lake Michigan about 25 miles southeast of Chicago, was restored later than other communities because of race. An executive with NIPSCO’s parent company told The Associated Press that restoration timing reflected where storm damage occurred and was not related to race or division.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun criticized the utility and called for an investigation, arguing that customers expect the monopoly provider to maintain its system, prepare for severe weather and restore service quickly after disasters. Braun also said President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration, opening the door to additional assistance for recovery.

Seven storm-related deaths were reported statewide, according to a count of official reports compiled by NBC News, including one death in Lake County. NIPSCO said its immediate restoration effort was effectively finished Wednesday, while remaining crews continued working on isolated customer outages and communities across Indiana continued their broader recovery.