Thousands in Gary, Indiana remain without electricity nearly two weeks after storms

More than 8,600 customers in Gary, Indiana, are still without electricity nearly two weeks after severe storms on Aug. 11, according to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO). The city, which has a majority-Black population, has seen residents struggle with medical needs, food spoilage and safety concerns.

Seventy-three-year-old Joetta Walker, who relies on a nebulizer for asthma, said the loss of power rendered the device unusable, forcing her to depend on an inhaler. She described worsening breathing difficulties and the need to use candlelight at night. Other residents reported similar hardships, including food loss, generator thefts and sleeping in cars to escape the heat.

Mayor Eddie Melton said he has spoken with President Donald Trump and Sen. Jim Banks, urging federal resources and an executive order to accelerate restoration. He expressed optimism that a significant portion of the outage could be resolved within a day, though he criticized the utility’s pace, calling a twelve-day outage “too long for families to be without power.”

NIPSCO responded in an email that it is “focused on safely restoring power to all customers in every affected community” and expects to complete restoration in Gary by Tuesday. Utility officials have not provided a detailed timeline for the remaining outages.

Residents such as Dion Thomas, 40, noted that power crews have begun work but are encountering setbacks, with some restored service dropping again. Others, like Calvin Boone, 44, highlighted rising concerns about generator thefts and the vulnerability of elderly and medically dependent neighbors.

The prolonged outage has prompted speculation among locals that the city’s demographic makeup may be influencing the speed of restoration. Community members continue to seek assistance while coping with heat, lack of refrigeration, and limited medical support.