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 facing nearly two weeks without power, the aftermath of the devastating storm feels less like a recovery and more like a crisis without end.
Mayor Eddie Melton is demanding accountability. Gary residents deserve better information, he insists, and NIPSCO has fallen short.
“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. Earlier restoration information was inadequate for Gary.”
City workers, police, and volunteers have been clearing roads, removing trees, and connecting residents with food, clothing, shelter and information around the clock. Still, frustration is mounting over what residents perceive as communication failures and a lack of urgency from the utility company.
Gary is a city where Black residents represent over 75 percent of the population, yet it has faced severe environmental injustice for generations. Heavy industrial concentration has left residents disproportionately exposed to toxic air and higher health risks, according to the Pulitzer Center. This is layered on top of historical housing discrimination and systemic disinvestment that has shaped the city’s trajectory.
The current blackout reads as another chapter in Gary’s story of Black excellence overshadowed by environmental neglect, a pattern other Black cities like New Orleans have endured.
When reporter Samantha Chatman asked Mayor Melton whether the crisis reminded him of Hurricane Katrina, his answer was direct: “Well, it certainly feels that way at night.”
He described children walking in darkness searching for food, seniors calling for assistance. The city’s most vulnerable are being hit hardest. Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, killing hundreds and displacing thousands. In Gary, seven people have been confirmed dead due to the storm and blackout. The comparisons are uncomfortable but difficult to avoid. The slow response to Black residents of New Orleans after Katrina was widely condemned. Now, while NIPSCO works to restore power, Gary is taking care of itself.
Melton said the city has partnered with the YWCA and community organizations to offer support. City officials and volunteers continue helping residents navigate flooding, damaged homes, fallen trees, and other storm-related damage.
The mayor urged residents to document all damage for reimbursement. During an appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” he advised taking photos and videos of property damage, keeping receipts for emergency purchases, and tracking the outage timeline. Residents should contact their homeowners or renters insurance to check whether spoiled food, temporary lodging, or other losses are covered under their policies.
As the city prepares for another weekend without power, residents continue showing up for each other. The mayor’s office keeps pushing for clear communication. For Melton, this reflects both what Gary has already accomplished and what still needs to be done.
“Crime has been at the lowest it’s ever been in 60 years,” he said. “That progress is not going to stop. We’re just slowed down right now until we can get back to normal.”
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