Severe Storms Batter Northwest Indiana, Leaving Nearly 400,000 Without Power
Storms on Aug. 11 caused NIPSCO's largest outage event on record in Northwest Indiana, cutting power to nearly 400,000 customers, with thousands still without electricity in Gary by Aug. 22.
Original report
www.afro.com
Industry impact
Utility-scale outage events of this size show how regional power and infrastructure disruption can linger for weeks, complicating ground operations well beyond the storm itself.
What happened
Powerful storms swept through Northwest Indiana on Aug. 11, causing what NIPSCO described as the most destructive event ever to strike its service territory, with nearly 400,000 outages reported across Lake County. Gary, East Chicago, Hammond and Munster were among the hardest-hit communities, with high winds, heavy rain and tornado activity reported as the system moved through the region.
By Aug. 22, more than 300,000 customers had power restored, but thousands remained without electricity, particularly in Gary, which officials identified as the hardest-hit city. Resident Shatiya Hardin was still checking her refrigerator more than a week after the storm struck. Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. urged residents to use extreme caution, saying, "Our first priority is the safety of the residents of Lake County. Please be patient, stay alert and, most importantly, do not put yourself or others in danger by traveling through areas affected by downed trees, power lines or flooding."
In Merrillville, large fallen trees blocked portions of the Erie Lackawanna Trail between Johnson Street and 73rd Avenue, and another section approximately one-half mile south of 93rd Avenue. Wicker Memorial Park in Highland was closed due to downed trees. Authorities warned that fallen power lines may be hidden beneath tree limbs and debris, and that drivers should not attempt to travel through flooded streets, as water can be deeper or faster-moving than it appears. The National Weather Service warned of the possibility of additional severe storms on Aug. 12, as the storms were part of a broader severe-weather outbreak that struck portions of Indiana on Aug. 11 and the days that followed.
Industry impact & what to watch
Large-scale outage events like this one show how a single storm system can knock out regional power infrastructure for weeks rather than days, with restoration proceeding unevenly across affected communities. Gary's continued outages more than ten days after the storm, even as most of the region regained power, illustrate how localized damage concentrations can extend recovery timelines well past the initial event.
Ground infrastructure such as roads, trails and parks remaining closed due to downed trees and hidden power lines adds a secondary layer of disruption beyond the electrical outage itself, affecting access and mobility in storm-hit areas. The threat of additional severe storms on Aug. 12 underscored how a second weather event can complicate ongoing restoration work.
What happens next depends on how quickly NIPSCO completes restoration in Gary and whether further storm activity in the region causes additional damage or delays to that work.
Who this affects
- General Aviation Airports — Power outages affecting Gary and Lake County could disrupt lighting, fueling and communications at nearby general aviation airfields until restoration is complete.
- Fixed Base Operators (FBO) — FBOs near Gary and Lake County may need backup power arrangements while thousands of customers remain without electricity.
The underlying facts come from the originating publisher (linked above). The narrative, industry-impact assessment and per-role analysis below are produced independently by the AVI-GO intelligence team from public information. Cite as: AVI-GO, "Severe Storms Batter Northwest Indiana, Leaving Nearly 400,000 Without Power" news brief, 2026-08-24.
How to cite
AVI-GO, “Severe Storms Batter Northwest Indiana, Leaving Nearly 400,000 Without Power”. https://ai.avi-go.com/news/ai-news-center/news-briefs/severe-storms-batter-northwest-indiana-leaving-nearly-400-000-without-1e41d25bf6cc0cf732c60b544e437dc6
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