Full Breakdown
Gary, Indiana Endures Two-Week Power Outage After August 11 Derecho
8/26/2026, 10:55:55 PM
Core Outage and Investigation
Severe storms on August 11, 2026 produced 90-plus-mph straight-line winds that toppled trees onto power lines across northwest Indiana. The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) lost service to roughly 374,500 customers at the event’s peak. Two weeks later, thousands of residents—most of them in Gary—remain without electricity. Indiana Governor Mike Braun directed the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a complaint and petition the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for a formal investigation of NIPSCO’s storm preparation, vegetation-management practices, and use of ratepayer-funded reliability upgrades.
Background & Context
Gary, a majority-Black city of about 67,000, has long faced disinvestment and higher poverty rates than the state average. Aging infrastructure and limited vegetation control amplify storm damage in such communities. NIPSCO called the August 11 derecho the region’s “worst in its history,” noting widespread flooding and power loss.
Data & Statistics
- Peak outage: ~374,500 customers without power (NIPSCO).
- Restored by August 24: 364,400 customers, leaving about 10,180 still in the dark.
- Gary’s median household income: $40,752 (vs. Indiana’s $71,959); 29 % of residents live in poverty (U.S. Census 2024 ACS).
- Approximately 55,000 of Gary’s 69,000 residents are Black (2024 ACS).
Impact on Residents
Extended darkness forced families to discard spoiled food, rely on generators, and seek shelter at community centers. Residents with medical equipment reported life-threatening interruptions; Joetta Walker, 73, cannot use her nebulizer without power. Heat, lack of refrigeration, and limited transportation heightened stress, especially for low-income households.
Official Statements & Responses
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton called the restoration pace “unacceptable” and urged more accurate outage reporting. Rep. André Carson warned that rising electricity bills and NIPSCO’s profits exacerbate the hardship for ratepayers.
Criticism & Opposition
Community leaders argue the outage reflects systemic inequities. Christine Jones, a Gary resident, said, “Unfortunately, I do think this is a racial issue … my daughter works in Crown Point and they got their lights on before we did.” Rep. Carson added that “their electricity bills have been going up for the last two years—while their utility company rakes in huge profits.”
On-the-Ground Reports
- Joetta Walker explained, “I have a nebulizer where I need to take breathing treatments.”
- Shatiya Hardin described nightly conditions: “At night we’re sweating, we’re irritable, we have children to look out for, elderly people who need electricity for oxygen tanks.”
- Christine Jones recounted food loss: “We had to throw it all away.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Outage counts differ across sources: The Guardian cited 14,500 Gary customers without power on a Sunday, later reduced to 10,187; the Chicago Tribune reported 7,000; NIPSCO’s dashboard listed 10,180 on August 24. No source provides a definitive final restoration date for the remaining customers.
What’s Next
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will review Braun’s complaint; the investigation will examine vegetation-management records and the allocation of $81 million approved for tree-trimming (2023-2025) and $2.3 billion earmarked for infrastructure upgrades since 2016. Governor Braun has also requested a major disaster declaration from FEMA to unlock additional federal assistance. Restoration crews, supplemented by National Guard personnel and out-of-state utility partners, aim to complete Gary’s power restoration by the evening of Tuesday, August 25.
