Gary Indiana power outage after storm
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The gist
A storm knocked out power for over 370,000 NIPSCO customers in Indiana.
Gary residents face a two-week outage, the largest in company history.
Background
A severe storm with 99 mph winds hit Northwest Indiana on Aug. 11, 2026, causing extensive damage and widespread power outages. NIPSCO, the region's utility, reported that over 60% of its customers lost power, making it the most destructive storm to the grid in recent history. The damage was particularly severe in Gary, where hundreds of poles and trees were downed, leading to a prolonged restoration effort.
How it unfolded
- Aug 11, 2026A storm with 99 mph winds hits Northwest Indiana, causing widespread damage and power outages.
- Aug 19, 2026NIPSCO reports over 370,000 customers lost power; Gary has the most customers waiting, with full restoration not expected until Aug. 25.
- Aug 20, 2026Residents in Gary and surrounding areas endure a ninth day without power; community centers provide meals and charging stations.
- Aug 21, 2026NIPSCO says 43,400 customers remain without power in the region; restoration for Gary expected by Tuesday.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- NIPSCO and officials say restoration is a monumental undertaking, with crews working daily and no socioeconomic bias in prioritization.
- Public
- Residents express frustration and exhaustion, with some saying they haven't received updates and patience is wearing thin.
Still unverified
Some residents reported a lack of communication from NIPSCO, but officials dispute claims of neglect, attributing delays to the storm's severity.