More than 10,000 residents in Northwest Indiana are still without power nearly two weeks after severe storms struck the region on Monday (August 11). The outages have sparked criticism from Indiana Governor Mike Braun, who has called out the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) for delays in restoring power.
Governor Braun, in a post on X, expressed frustration, stating that NIPSCO had “ample resources” but continues to “fail Hoosiers.” He has mobilized the Indiana National Guard and other state agencies to assist in recovery efforts. NIPSCO, however, has reported that it has restored power to over 363,000 customers and is working with additional crews, including those from ComEd, to address the remaining outages.
The storms, which began on August 11, have left significant damage, with Gary and Portage among the hardest-hit areas. Residents like Yvonya Randle, who is pregnant and overdue, are facing severe challenges due to the prolonged outages. Community organizations, such as First Baptist Church of Gary, are providing relief through food distributions and other support.
NIPSCO has faced legal action, with a class-action lawsuit alleging inadequate vegetation management around power lines. The utility company denies these claims, emphasizing its commitment to restoring power safely and efficiently.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Chicago Bears have announced a $200,000 donation to support storm relief efforts in the region. Governor Braun is also seeking a major disaster declaration from the federal government to aid in recovery efforts, estimating property damage costs to exceed $5 billion.
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