More than a week after a powerful storm tore through Northwest Indiana, thousands of Gary residents remain without electricity. Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced that power will be fully restored across Gary by Tuesday (Aug. 25). But for residents who could spend nearly two weeks without power, trying to survive the aftermath of the devastating storm feels like a crisis that refuses to end.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton says his constituents deserve better information.
“Every single day, we’ve been providing an update on what’s going on post the storm since Aug. 11,” Melton said in an Instagram update. “The main thing I’m doing right now is demanding that NIPSCO give specific and accurate information regarding this outage,” he said, arguing that earlier restoration information was inadequate for Gary.
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City workers, police, volunteers and General Services crews have been working around the clock to clear roads, remove trees and connect residents with food, clothing, shelter and information, according to the mayor’s office. Still, Gary residents are expressing their frustrations with what seems like communication errors and a lack of urgency from NIPSCO.
A city where Black residents represent over 75 percent of the population, Gary has faced severe environmental injustice for generations due to its heavy industrial concentration. Residents often experience disproportionate exposure to toxic air and higher health risks, according to the Pulitzer Center. This is coupled with historical housing discrimination and systemic disinvestment.
The latest blackout feels like another chapter in Gary’s complicated history of Black excellence and environmental neglect, a history that other Black cities, like New Orleans, have also faced.
Reporter Samantha Chatman asked Mayor Melton whether the crisis reminded him of Hurricane Katrina.
“Well, it certainly feels that way at night,” the mayor responded, describing children walking in the dark trying to find food, stressing that Gary’s most vulnerable are being hit hardest.
“When you see senior citizens that’s calling, asking for assistance, it definitely feels that way,” he added.
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and displacing thousands of people. To date, seven people in Gary have been confirmed dead due to the storm and blackout, according to officials. But it’s hard not to make comparisons. The slow response to Black residents of New Orleans impacted by Hurricane Katrina was widely criticized. Today, while NIPSCO works to restore the power, Gary is trying to take care of itself.
Melton said the city has been working with the YWCA and community partners to offer support to residents. City officials and volunteers have also been helping residents navigate the aftermath, including flooding, damaged homes, fallen trees and other storm-related problems.
The mayor urged residents dealing with damage and loss to document everything for future reimbursement. During an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” he advised taking photos and videos of damaged property, saving receipts for emergency purchases, and keeping track of the dates and length of the outage. Residents should also contact their homeowners or renters insurance providers to ask if spoiled food, temporary lodging or other losses are covered under their policies.
While the city prepares for another weekend in the dark, residents continue to show up for each other, and the mayor’s office continues to offer clear communication to keep everyone on the same page. For Melton, this is a reflection of the work the city has completed thus far and what remains to be done.
“Crime has been at the lowest it’s ever been in 60 years,” he said. “So that progress is not going to stop. It’s just slowed us down right now until we can get back to normal.”
