Thousands in Northwest Indiana Remain Without Power After Two Weeks

More than 20,000 residents in Northwest Indiana are still grappling with a power outage that began nearly two weeks ago following destructive storms. Crews are working around the clock to restore service, but the scale of the damage is significant.

NIPSCO Reports Record Storm Damage

NIPSCO reports that this storm has broken nearly 1,200 power poles – nearly ten times more than the combined damage from the previous four major storms. The utility is prioritizing restoration efforts throughout the region.

Community Support and Relief Efforts

Local organizations, including World Central Kitchen, are providing critical assistance to affected families. World Central Kitchen has distributed over 4,000 meals since yesterday and anticipates continuing to meet the growing need. At the Lake Ridge Fire Department, volunteers are offering relief resources to those struggling without power.

Resident Struggles and School Resumption

Rita Ward, a resident of Calumet Township, has been without power for 12 days and describes the situation as “pretty rough,” particularly due to the reliance on a septic system without running water. Gary Community School Corporation announced that school will resume on Monday with a two-hour delay. Indiana Governor Mike Braun deployed the Indiana National Guard to assist with clearing pathways for NIPSCO crews, and ComEd sent additional restoration teams.

Ongoing Assistance

“It’s been a struggle. The struggle is real, but we’re hanging in there,” said Ward. “I know it could be worse, so we’re just praying for power to come back on.”