Power finally restored in US city after 2 weeks in the dark - but more storms are on the way

NewsShatiya Hardin uses a flashlight as she looks around her basement after power outages at her house in Gary, Ind., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, more than a week after a deadly storm passes through the area. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhBy Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.comPower has finally been restored in one of the poorest U.S. cities after residents spent two weeks in the dark.The Northern Indiana Public Service Company said the electricity is back on for 99% of residents in Indiana, as of Tuesday night. Tens of thousands had been without power in Gary, Indiana, since Aug. 11, when powerful storms killed at least seven people.“We jumped up and down. I came in actually, and I was just like, ‘Oh, finally!’” resident Dasia Blackmon told ABC7 after the lights came on.Just 715 residents in Indiana are still without power, according to NIPSCO — mostly in Gary. At the height of the storm, more than 374,000 customers had lost electricity statewide.But ABC7 reports there are concerns the power could go out again as part of the state is under a Level 2 risk for severe weather Wednesday. There is a 2% risk of tornadoes in Chicago’s south suburbs and a 5% risk of tornadoes in northwest Indiana.Amid concerns about the U.S. power grid’s vulnerabilities, NIPSCO has faced criticism for its preparedness and response. A class-action lawsuit accused the company of failing to proactively trim trees and vegetation near power lines, and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has called for an investigation.Tyanna Borom, 5, cries after receiving food at City Life Center in Gary, Indi., Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, more than a week after a deadly storm passes through the area. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)AP Photo/Nam Y. HuhBraun said Tuesday that President Donald Trump approved his request for a major disaster declaration. Braun said federal funding from FEMA will help 54 counties, where damages from the storm’s 99 mph winds that downed trees on power lines are estimated to cost more than $5 billion.NIPSCO, which said its “vegetation management spend has more than doubled since 2016,” told ABC7 that it will cooperate with Braun’s investigation. The company said its work over the past two weeks included replacing 300 poles and 44 power transmission poles, with assistance from ComEd, the largest electric company in Illinois.According to the Associated Press, experts say poorer populations are most vulnerable to cases of severe weather, natural disasters and especially extreme heat. More than 29% of Gary’s population is living in poverty, according to 2024 U.S. Census data.Stephen Pantano, senior vice president of market transformation for the Urban Land Institute’s Impact Lab, told the AP that problems are likely to increase as climate risks grow.“It’s a matter of where the lightning strikes on any given day as to which specific community is hit,” Pantano said. “Gary’s number came up this time, but it’s going to be another city next time. And the problem with aging infrastructure and disinvestment tends to accentuate the impacts when they hit communities that have been experiencing those problems for a long time.”Geoff "DeafGeoff" Herbert is a Reporter and Content Supervisor for Advance Local. He covers a wide range of topics including entertainment, national news and trending topics, plus specializes in search engine...