Some Gary residents were still without power 13 days after Aug. 11 storms.
Why it matters: The outage is still disrupting homes, businesses and schools in Gary while restoration continues.
- A severe storm system on Aug. 11 left more than 38,300 homes and businesses in Gary without power.
- By Aug. 24, some residents were still waiting for service restoration 13 days later.
- Mayor Eddie Melton called the pace of restoration "unacceptable" and said 12 days without power was too long for families and businesses.
- NIPSCO said more than 370,000 customers lost power across its service area and more than 364,000 had been restored by Aug. 24.
A severe storm system on Aug. 11 knocked out power across northwest Indiana, with Gary hit especially hard. AP reported that more than 38,300 homes and businesses in the city lost electricity, and some customers were still waiting on Aug. 24, 13 days later. AP's report said the outage left some residents without service long after the storm passed.
Mayor Eddie Melton called the pace of restoration "unacceptable," saying 12 days without power was too long for families and businesses. WFYI reported that damage assessments stretched across more than 2,000 miles of power lines. Local reporting from WFYI
NIPSCO said the storm was the largest outage event in its history. On Aug. 24, the utility said more than 370,000 customers lost power overall and more than 364,000 had been restored, with remaining customers expected back online by Tuesday, Aug. 25. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security also said its latest anticipated restoration date for parts of northwest Indiana was Aug. 25. The DHS update cited severe wind damage, including downed trees and power lines.
The outage has also drawn legal scrutiny. A Porter County resident filed a negligence lawsuit accusing NIPSCO of vegetation management failures, and the utility said it strongly disagreed with the claims and would vigorously defend itself. AP
By the numbers
- 38,300+ - Homes and businesses in Gary that lost power on Aug. 11
- 370,000+ - Customers who lost power across NIPSCO's service area
- 364,000+ - Customers NIPSCO said had been restored by Aug. 24
Yes, but: NIPSCO said most customers were restored by Aug. 24, but some Gary residents were still waiting and the utility's remaining restoration estimate extended to Aug. 25.
What's next: NIPSCO and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security said remaining customers were expected back online by Aug. 25.