Power was restored to Gary, Indiana, early Thursday morning, ending an eight-day blackout that left over 57,000 customers without electricity following a severe storm on August 11. The disruption forced businesses to close and left residents without essential services for nearly a week.
NIPSCO, the utility provider, confirmed power was restored to Gary and surrounding areas around 1 a.m. on August 20, though some customers in nearby Portage may still face delays. The company had previously estimated restoration for most affected areas by next Tuesday, but the timeline was pushed back as crews worked to repair extensive storm damage.
Immediate Impact on Businesses and Residents
Joslyn Kelly, owner of J's Breakfast Club in Gary, reported losing $19,000 in sales due to the outage. The restaurant, which lost power at noon on August 11, remained closed for the duration of the blackout. Kelly described the experience as "very unnerving," citing concerns over employee payroll, rent, and other financial obligations amid the prolonged shutdown.
"My focus is that I still have people to pay, bills to pay, commitments that need to be met," Kelly said. "Yet not being able to provide a service or have folks able to receive that service."
Residents like Shay Boldn and Debra Winters expressed frustration over the prolonged outages. Boldn noted that while NIPSCO had initially promised power restoration by Friday, the delays left many questioning the company’s timeline. Winters, a Gary resident, described the situation as "not pleasant," emphasizing the challenges of managing without air conditioning or refrigeration during a heatwave.
Ongoing Relief Efforts and Extended Outages
As of Thursday evening, 63,000 NIPSCO customers remained without power across Northwest Indiana. Relief organizations, including The Salvation Army, have been distributing meals and supplies to affected families. The storm caused extreme flooding and downed trees, further complicating recovery efforts.
NIPSCO has faced mounting criticism for the delayed restoration, with some residents and local officials calling for greater transparency about repair progress. The company has attributed the delays to the extent of storm damage, which required extensive repairs to infrastructure.
Storm Aftermath and Long-Term Concerns
The derecho that struck on August 11 brought widespread destruction, including power lines, transformers, and road blockages. While power has been restored to Gary, some areas may experience lingering disruptions as crews continue repairs. Businesses and residents are now assessing the financial and operational toll of the blackout, with many questioning the reliability of local infrastructure in future storms.
Officials have not yet released estimates for the total cost of repairs or the timeline for full restoration in all affected areas.