Gary, Indiana, can’t blame racism for every failure exposed by its catastrophic blackout

Gary, Indiana, Endures Massive Power Outage After Record‑Breaking Derecho

Gary, Indiana, a city once known for its steel mills and the birthplace of pop icon Michael Jackson, suffered a near‑complete loss of electricity after a powerful derecho struck on the morning of August 11. The straight‑line windstorm, which produced gusts exceeding 100 mph at the Gary/Chicago International Airport, toppled trees, snapped power poles, and left more than 20,000 residents without power for nearly two weeks.

A Storm Like No Other

Meteorologists described the August 11 event as a derecho, a long, fast‑moving windstorm that produces sustained, straight‑line winds rather than a rotating tornado. Wind speeds ranged from 70 mph in the outskirts to over 100 mph in the city’s core, with a recorded 99 mph gust at the regional airport. Those figures are comparable to the winds that accompany a Category 2 hurricane.

The damage was widespread. According to NIPSCO, the utility company that serves Gary and surrounding areas, the storm knocked down roughly 300 distribution poles and 44 transmission poles in Northwest Indiana. In Gary alone, trees that had stood for generations were uprooted, fell into power lines, and caused the poles to snap, plunging the city into darkness.

Immediate Human Impact

For the people of Gary, the loss of power was more than an inconvenience. The city’s residents, many of whom live in poverty, were forced to cope without air conditioning on hot August days. Elderly residents who rely on electrically powered respirators found themselves without the necessary equipment, and families were unable to keep their refrigerators cool, forcing them to cook meat outdoors in nearby parks. Some households that had generators reported them stolen, leaving them even more vulnerable.

“People were out there, in the heat, with no power to charge phones, no ability to stay at home,” said a local volunteer who was on the ground during the storm. “It felt like life had come to a literal standstill.”

Power Restoration Efforts

NIPSCO reported that it had restored service to 99 % of affected customers. However, some households still needed repairs to privately owned equipment before they could safely reconnect. The utility company cited the sheer scale of the damage and the necessity of following standard restoration protocols—prioritizing major lines first—to safely bring power back on.

Despite the restoration, residents expressed frustration. Several cited the perception that the delay was linked to racial inequities, a sentiment that echoed long‑standing grievances about unequal service delivery. NIPSCO denied any bias, stating that the restoration sequence was purely engineering‑based and not discriminatory. The utility also mentioned that it has increased its vegetation‑management spending in response to allegations of inadequate tree trimming and grid preparedness that have emerged since the storm.

Community Response

The derecho exposed not only a vulnerability in the power grid but also a resilience in the community. A local nonprofit, Project H.O.O.D., led by Pastor Corey Brooks, and other churches and volunteers drove into Gary to distribute produce, hot meals, and essential supplies such as soap, shampoo, and toothpaste. “The infrastructure failed, but that didn’t mean we couldn't come together and help one another,” Brooks said.

The storm also sparked a renewed sense of purpose among residents and volunteers alike. Some have already begun to discuss plans for a new Project H.O.O.D. facility in Gary that would offer workforce development, youth mentorship, violence prevention, and reentry programs for the formerly incarcerated.

A City in Decline

Gary’s struggle with the derecho sits against a backdrop of long‑term economic decline. The city’s population has fallen from over 80,000 in 2010 to an estimated 67,289 in 2025. Widespread poverty and vacant properties have long characterized the Rust Belt city, which was once a thriving center of America’s steel industry. The recent storm has highlighted the fragility of its infrastructure and the pressing need for investment.

Looking Forward

The derecho’s aftermath has prompted questions about whether the city’s tree‑trimming and grid preparedness protocols were adequate. A potential lawsuit alleges that NIPSCO’s maintenance practices contributed to the extensive damage. While NIPSCO disputes these claims, the incident has spurred calls for greater transparency and investment in infrastructure.

For now, the lights in Gary flicker back on, but the storm’s legacy will linger. The city’s residents, their neighbors, and supporters from outside the community are working together to rebuild not only power lines but also the social fabric that binds the community. As Pastor Brooks reflects, “If we keep this energy and channel it into tangible projects, we can rise out of this hole. That’s what the derecho revealed—our collective strength and will to improve our lives.”

As Gary continues its recovery, officials and residents alike will be watching closely to ensure that the city’s infrastructure is fortified against future storms and that the lessons from August 11 are not lost to history.