By Gloria Ogbonna
Tens of thousands of homes and businesses across northwest Indiana remain without electricity as communities continue a difficult recovery following a powerful line of severe storms that swept through the region earlier this week.
The widespread outages are creating additional challenges for residents who are already dealing with damaged homes, downed trees, destroyed property and, in some cases, the loss of loved ones.
Utility crews have been working around the clock to restore electricity, but the scale of the damage has made the recovery process particularly difficult.
More than 260,000 NIPSCO customers were still without power Thursday morning after the storms caused more than 301,000 customer outages earlier in the week. NIPSCO described the event as the largest outage in the utility’s history.
The company said it expects about 90% of affected customers to have their electricity restored by Tuesday, Aug. 19. Full restoration, where conditions allow crews to safely reconnect customers, is expected by Friday, Aug. 21.
For many families, however, the wait for electricity is only one part of a much larger recovery effort.
Residents are also dealing with damaged roofs, fallen trees, destroyed vehicles and homes that are temporarily or permanently unlivable.
National Weather Service Confirms Six Tornadoes
The National Weather Service confirmed Thursday that at least six tornadoes touched down in the Chicago area during Tuesday’s severe weather outbreak, including two that crossed into northwest Indiana.
The storms produced widespread destruction across communities on both sides of the Illinois-Indiana border.
The National Weather Service said an EF2 tornado traveled from Monee to Crete, while an EF1 tornado moved from Orland Park toward Flossmoor. Another tornado was confirmed in Will County near Mokena, with damage consistent with an EF1 rating.
Two of the tornadoes crossed into Indiana.
The National Weather Service also confirmed an EF0 tornado near Oswego on Wednesday and an EF1 tornado in Wilmington.
On Thursday, officials confirmed another EF1 tornado in the Homewood area, bringing the total number of confirmed tornadoes connected to the outbreak to six.
The tornado confirmations are adding to the understanding of just how extensive Tuesday’s storm system was and why communities across the region are facing such a difficult cleanup.
Indiana National Guard Mobilized
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has authorized the Indiana National Guard to assist with storm recovery efforts in Lake County as local communities work to clear debris and restore essential services.
The National Guard is also preparing to assist with food distribution, although specific meal distribution locations had not yet been announced.
Braun declared a statewide disaster emergency Thursday as officials assessed the widespread damage caused by the storms.
“Hoosiers’ safety is my top priority,” Braun said. “Our state response is fully mobilized, resources are moving where they’re needed, and we will continue working around the clock to support every impacted community.”
The deployment comes as emergency crews, utility workers, local officials and volunteers continue working to help residents recover.
With hundreds of thousands of customers affected at the height of the outages, officials say restoration and cleanup will take time.
Two People Died in the Storms
The severe weather has also resulted in two reported deaths.
In Gary, 58-year-old Paula Plebanski, who was experiencing homelessness, died after being struck by roofing material during the storm.
In Portage, 86-year-old Leona Rice died following a house explosion that occurred during the severe weather aftermath.
The deaths have added to the grief felt across communities already struggling with widespread destruction.
Neighbors Step Up to Help
Despite the devastation, residents and community organizations have been coming together to support families affected by the storms.
In Portage, American Legion Post 260 has been providing meals to people impacted by the severe weather.
Portage Township leaders have also established free shelter where residents can rest, charge their phones and keep medical devices powered while they remain without electricity.
The community response has provided an important lifeline for residents who are trying to navigate the aftermath while waiting for power to be restored.
Portage Family Loses Home After Trees Crash Through Trailer
Among those facing an uncertain future is a young Portage woman whose family home was severely damaged when two trees fell onto their trailer at Oak Tree Village Trailer Park.
Dawnn Gaoian, 21, said she, her 76-year-old father, John, and her 56-year-old mother, Wendy, are now without a place to live after the trees crashed through the structure and caused the roof to cave in.
Dawnn recently graduated from college and said her family does not have the financial resources needed to cover the extensive repairs.
She described the emotional impact of watching the home where she grew up become severely damaged.
“Just seeing your childhood home, all those memories gone, and just trying to figure out where to go next with things,” Dawnn said.
The situation is even more difficult because the family does not have homeowners insurance to help cover the cost of the destruction.
“We don’t have homeowners insurance or anything like that,” she said. “So it’s definitely been a bit of a struggle to try to figure out where we’re gonna go next with things.”
The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign as they seek financial assistance to help with housing and recovery expenses.
Storms Disrupt School Plans
The damage has also affected families preparing for the upcoming school year.
The School Town of Munster announced that the first day of school for K-12 students has been postponed until at least Monday, Aug. 17, as officials continue assessing the impact of the storms and working to ensure schools are safe for students and staff.
The delay is another indication of how the severe weather has disrupted everyday life across northwest Indiana.
For families already dealing with power outages and property damage, the postponement provides additional time for communities to stabilize.
Food Distribution Underway
Several organizations are also providing free meals and groceries to residents affected by the storms.
The Salvation Army scheduled meal distribution events Thursday while supplies last.
Distribution locations included:
- Portage High School: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Salvation Army Michigan City Corps: 5 p.m.
- Salvation Army La Porte Corps: 5 p.m.
- La Porte City Hall: 5 p.m.
- La Porte Civic Center: 6 p.m.
Strack & Van Til grocery stores are also providing free food from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at several locations across northwest Indiana.
Participating stores include:
- St. John: 9825 Wicker Avenue
- Hammond: 115 Sibley Street
- Highland: 9632 Cline Avenue
- Cedar Lake: 9605 Lincoln Plaza
- Portage: 6046 Central Avenue
- Valparaiso: 2800 N. Calumet Avenue
Recovery Could Take Days
As utility crews continue repairing damaged infrastructure, officials are warning residents to remain patient and cautious.
The historic number of outages means some customers may remain without electricity for several more days, particularly in areas where trees, power lines and other infrastructure suffered extensive damage.
Residents are also being urged to stay away from downed power lines and damaged structures as cleanup continues.
For communities across northwest Indiana, the recovery is now a race against time as families try to restore some sense of normalcy.
The storms may have passed, but their effects are expected to be felt for days and, for some residents, much longer.
With emergency crews, utility workers, government agencies, businesses and volunteers working together, communities are beginning the long process of rebuilding and helping families who lost homes, belongings and, in two tragic cases, loved ones.
Source ABC7
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