On August 11, a severe storm hit Northwest Indiana, leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Indiana Governor Mike Braun emphasized the value of collaboration across local, state, and federal levels at a press conference held at the American Red Cross’ emergency shelter in Gary’s Hudson Campbell Sports and Fitness Center.
Governor Braun expressed pride in the efforts of first responders and local authorities, saying that during such events, they are the immediate aid providers. He remarked, “From Northwest Indiana to downstate, we haven’t faced an event like this in a century.”
During a press conference on August 31, officials including Braun, FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton discussed ongoing recovery efforts nearly three weeks after a damaging derecho swept through the region. They also visited Carmel and Connersville to evaluate flood damage.
Gary became a focal point of the response with tens of thousands losing power for about two weeks. Mayor Melton noted that some residents remained without power due to damaged weatherheads, which protect exterior home wires. The Legacy Foundation offers assistance for weatherhead replacement.
NIPSCO’s website reported 59 Gary residents and 159 customers overall still lacked power. Melton expressed concerns over NIPSCO’s response to the power outage. He stated, “Citizens in Gary have been without power for over two weeks. We need to investigate this issue to enhance reliability in our energy sources.” Melton acknowledged the support from Braun and Hamilton during the recovery.
“(Braun) has been just a phone call away ever since the disaster,” Melton said.
Governor Braun announced that President Donald Trump granted a major disaster declaration via FEMA, speeding up resource allocation. Braun attributed the swift approval to Indiana’s good relationship with the federal government, avoiding delays that might have lasted until mid-September.
FEMA Administrator Hamilton thanked the federal and local government for their support. He praised the community for adapting and acknowledged partners aiding with food, FEMA registration, and other needs. He encouraged affected residents to contact FEMA for assistance through disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. FEMA set up intake centers throughout Lake County, including at United Steelworkers Local 1014 and the Lions Club Social Center in Munster.
U.S. Representative Frank Mrvan commended the bipartisan support during the recovery, noting collective efforts to secure FEMA’s involvement. He stated, “When you need to help people, and there’s a major disaster, collaboration is crucial.”
The American Red Cross reported Gary’s emergency shelter is the largest in the state. Across Indiana, six Red Cross locations shelter 179 individuals. As of recently, Gary housed 109 people at the Hudson Campbell center. The Red Cross pledged to provide services as long as necessary.
Crystal L. Franklin and Michele Taylor are among those receiving Red Cross aid. They started at the YMCA before moving to Hudson Campbell. “I don’t know why we moved, perhaps they needed more space,” Franklin mentioned. The center provided a larger space.
Despite not knowing each other before the storm, Franklin and Taylor formed a bond while residing in the shelters. “We became friends from the moment we met,” Taylor commented. They plan to use the Red Cross’ Shelter Resident Transition program for housing in Gary. The storms had already displaced both women before August 11.
Franklin and Taylor expressed gratitude towards volunteers and officials, particularly Mayor Melton. Taylor said, “I appreciate the mayor’s dedication, and it’s promising to see the governor involved.”