Janie Gray, a resident of Portage, faced a terrifying experience when three trees fell onto her house during the August 11 derecho. “It was pretty scary,” Gray remarked as she stood in line for a free meal at the Portage Strong event held at Founders Square. Despite the widespread damage, Gray laughed and shared the meal with her family on August 22, 2026.
Recalling the ordeal, Gray noted, “By the time I got to my kids, I heard a huge boom.” Fortunately, her family remained uninjured. However, the neighborhood did not resemble its former self. “It was so devastating,” she observed. With 11 days without electricity, Gray’s main focus was ensuring the safety of her eight children amid the challenges.
At 3 p.m. that Saturday, NIPSCO’s outage website indicated that 30,789 customers were still without power. Among them, 3,870 were from Portage, and over 17,500 from Gary. Power restoration was anticipated by Tuesday, two weeks post-99 mph winds that had wreaked havoc.
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta addressed attendees during the Portage Strong event. He emphasized it was a gathering to appreciate community resilience rather than to celebrate restored power, as outages persisted.
In the aftermath of the Aug. 11 storm, approximately 301,000 customers initially lost power. The situation worsened with subsequent rainstorms. NIPSCO recognized this outage as the largest in its history.
Various organizations extended aid to affected residents. Notably, the Chicago Bears donated $100,000 each to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Gary. On the same day, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana contributed $100,000 to Calumet Township Trustee’s Office.
Gray received a visit from the insurance adjuster before attending the Portage Strong event. “Nobody’s hurt. We’re all safe. I’m really grateful to God,” she expressed. Her sentiments reflected the local spirit: “It doesn’t stop our spirits. It doesn’t stop people from caring about each other.”
Daniella Douglas from Portage recounted the storm’s impact: “The sky just turned green, and the wind started going.” For the first time, her family sheltered in place. Every night, they assessed the city, seeing crushed vehicles and fallen trees. “It was a total blackout,” Douglas noted, save for the Meijer store.
Andrew and Jessica Law were among those still without electricity. Though they used a generator, its coverage was limited. Jessica explained, “We’re all confined to one room,” a reality further strained by daily generator expenses.
Nate Uldricks shared his perspective while passing by his grandparents’ residence en route to the event. Witnessing historical trees fall was somber yet hopeful. “It’s an opportunity for planting new trees,” he suggested.
Mayor Bonta reiterated the importance of community gatherings in the recovery journey. Beyond entertainment, the event provided mental health and spiritual support. “We even have resources for the pups and maybe the cats here,” he added.
Organizer Wayne Antusas, associated with Builder of Men Ministries, reflected on the event’s success: “I am very happy for the turnout. I feel energized.” For Antusas and others, the gathering symbolized unity and healing.
Volunteer teams were instrumental in the recovery effort. Morgan Luna, despite her unaffected home, focused on assisting neighbors in need. “Honestly, I’m just trying to help people,” she shared. Councilwoman Gina Giese-Hurst highlighted the conversations fostered by such community efforts.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said about individuals trapped without help, yet found hope in collective action. “Every day at City Hall at 10 am, there’s people showing up to help.” The commendable efforts of Portage volunteers embody the strength found in unity amid adversity.