Thousands of families in Gary, Indiana, are demanding answers after spending nearly two weeks without electricity following a devastating series of storms that ripped through northwest Indiana, toppling massive trees and destroying power lines.

The crisis began on August 11, when powerful storms slammed the region with winds reaching 99 mph, comparable to the strength of a Category 2 hurricane. At the height of the disaster, hundreds of thousands of customers across northwest Indiana lost electricity.

Gary was among the hardest-hit communities. More than 20,000 NIPSCO customers in the city were still without power late in the week, leaving families struggling with extreme disruption to their everyday lives.

Residents are now speaking out about the exhausting conditions.

Some families have been forced to depend on generators, repeatedly buying gasoline just to keep refrigerators, medical equipment and basic household appliances running. Others have thrown away spoiled food, struggled to charge phones and endured hot nights without air conditioning.

Gary resident Shatiya Hardin described the situation as “absolutely horrible,” telling CBS News that families are dealing with children, elderly residents and people who rely on electricity for oxygen equipment.

The prolonged outage has also disrupted schools and businesses. Gary’s school system was forced to close as officials assessed when it would be safe for students to return.

More than 20,000 residents in Gary, Indiana, have been without power for almost two weeks after massive storms tore through the area, knocking down trees and power lines. Residents are speaking out. pic.twitter.com/jzSDi8OA6T

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 23, 2026

Utility provider NIPSCO says the extraordinary delay is linked to widespread and complicated damage to the electrical network. Hundreds of utility poles require replacement, while crews have been brought in from across the country to assist with restoration efforts.

NIPSCO has estimated that full power restoration in Gary could take until Tuesday, August 25, meaning some customers could spend almost two full weeks without electricity.

The company has also pushed back against accusations that Gary has been neglected, insisting restoration priorities are based on the severity and complexity of storm damage.

But for residents still sitting in darkened homes, patience is wearing thin.

What began as a violent storm has turned into a prolonged survival battle and thousands in Gary are still waiting for one simple thing: the lights to come back on.