Residents across Gary and Northwest Indiana are still recovering nearly two weeks after powerful storms and a derecho tore through the area on August 11.
The storm brought destructive winds, flooding and widespread power outages. Although electricity has been restored to hundreds of thousands of customers, more than 10,000 homes and businesses remained without power Monday morning, with some Gary residents approaching two full weeks in the dark.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has criticized utility company NIPSCO over the lengthy restoration process and deployed the Indiana National Guard along with other state agencies to help clear debris and assist crews. Braun has also called for an investigation into NIPSCO's handling of the outages.
President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, allowing FEMA to provide federal assistance for recovery efforts. Community organizations, volunteers and donors have also stepped in to provide food, generators and other necessities.
Gary is a predominantly Black city, and the slow recovery has raised concerns about whether historically underserved communities receive the same level of infrastructure investment and disaster response as wealthier areas. Civil rights leaders have called for equitable relief as residents continue waiting for their lights to come back on.