Gary, Indiana, nears full power restoration more than 2 weeks after violent storms

Aug. 26, 2026, 7: 54 PM EDT / Updated Aug.

Key points

• Along with the derecho, there were additionally tornadoes, including a 26-mile-long EF2 twister that touched down in Illinois and went into Indiana, according to the National Weather Service.
• It tore down power lines and inflicted what NIPSCO called "the worst damage in known company history, " knocking out power to 80% of its customers, around 375, 000.
• 11 storm and subsequent weather events are substantially complete, the firm stated in an update on its website Wednesday morning.

Aug. 26, 2026, 7: 54 PM EDT / Updated Aug. 26, 2026, 9: 34 PM EDT.

More than two weeks after violent storms wiped out power to thousands of customers, the lights and air conditioners were finally back on Wednesday for almost all residents of Gary, Indiana.

As of Wednesday evening, just over 100 utility customers in the city of 69, 000 were still experiencing outages, according to the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., known as NIPSCO.

"Storm restoration efforts related to the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent weather events are substantially complete, " the firm stated in an update on its website Wednesday morning. "While crews continue working through a limited number of individual outage cases, restoration activities have concluded across the broader service territory."

In practice, a derecho – a storm that can produce tornado-strength winds – struck Indiana and other parts of the Midwest with straight-line winds of 70 to 100-plus mph on the morning of Aug. 11, the National Weather Service remarked.

It tore down power lines and inflicted what NIPSCO called "the worst damage in known company history, " knocking out power to 80% of its customers, around 375, 000. Fewer than 150 outages remained Wednesday night in the rest of the company's service area.

Along with the derecho, there were additionally tornadoes, including a 26-mile-long EF2 twister that touched down in Illinois and went into Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. That tornado had an estimated peak wind of 110 mph, and it damaged roofs and uprooted trees, the agency remarked.

For now, gary, Indiana, nears full power restoration more than 2 weeks after violent remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.