Deadly Indiana flooding continues after days of heavy storms
Flooding continued across central Indiana as the White River neared its crest in Indianapolis after days of heavy rain and severe storms.
Thousands of people are still without power in Indiana and some may not see their power restored for several more days, according to officials.
In Indiana, around 64,760 customers are without power, according to USA TODAY’s power outage tracker. The power outages come after severe storms, which began on Aug. 11, and caused deadly floods in the state that have killed at least seven people.
While it’s been over a week since the storms began, and some areas, like Gary, Indiana, which is around 30 miles southeast of Chicago, are expected to have their power restored by Aug. 25, the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) said in a Facebook post. But some may not see their power restored until later.
“We want to assure you that every customer and outage is important to us and remains a priority,” NIPSCO said.
According to NIPSCO, around 370,000 customers have been without power since Aug. 11.
Gary, Indiana severely impacted by power outages
As communities wait for their power to be restored, Gary has been one of the Indiana cities hardest hit by the outages. The city says it will provide residents with three hot meals a day, tarps and charging stations, according to a Facebook post on the City of Gary Government page.
“The storm may have passed,” the city said. “The work continues. And Gary is not standing alone.”
But the damage from the storms has taken a toll on the city’s power system, leaving thousands without electricity or air conditioning, including children, senior citizens and those with disabilities or illnesses.
However, according to Melody Birmingham, the executive vice president of NiSource, NIPSCO’s parent company, the damage done is among the “most extensive and complex systems our crews have encountered.”
“These are systems that are being rebuilt,” Birmingham said at an Aug. 19 news conference.
Most residents are expected to have their power restored on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the earliest.
Where is power out in Indiana? See power outage map
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.