GARY, Ind. (AP) — As of Thursday, tens of thousands of residents in northwest Indiana have been without power for nine days following a storm on August 11 that caused significant damage. Many residents are discarding spoiled food, seeking hot meals, and looking for places to charge their devices. Schools in Gary remain closed due to the outages, which have affected the community's ability to function normally.
Northern Indiana Public Service Co. reported that 68,000 customers were still without power, primarily in Lake County. The utility has restored power to 306,500 customers since the storm but indicated that full restoration may not occur until Tuesday in some areas, including Gary.
Courtney Page-Tan, a professor at Indiana University Indianapolis, expressed concerns about health risks associated with prolonged outages, such as carbon monoxide poisoning from generators and the potential spoilage of food. Residents have reported increasing frustration as the outage continues.
Shatiya Hardin, a local hair stylist, noted that while residents initially coped with the situation, their patience is waning. Many in the community are seeking assistance through social media for food and supplies.
Raydia Martin from the Flourish Community Hub highlighted the positive response from volunteers and community groups, despite the challenges faced by residents. The utility company described the damage as unprecedented and has brought in crews from across the country to assist with repairs.
The outages have also disrupted the school year for many students, with Gary's school district remaining closed since August 13. Portage Township Schools postponed their start date due to safety concerns from storm damage. Page-Tan noted that school closures can significantly impact families, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck.
In central Ohio, heavy rains have caused flash flooding, resulting in emergency rescues. Columbus received over 3 inches of rain in 12 hours, complicating recovery efforts from previous storms. Mayor Andrew Ginther stated that the city is focused on supporting residents during this challenging time.