NIPSCO confirmed that power should be restored to most customers by Tuesday, but some outages could last until next Friday, as communities continue to recover from Tuesday’s storms that included two confirmed tornadoes.
According to the NWS’ Chicago branch, an EF-1 tornado made its way from Orland Park, Illinois, crossing the State Line into Munster and then heading north into Hammond. An EF-2 tornado traveled from Monee, Illinois, crossing the State Line into St. John and then into Crown Point.
Three other tornadoes were confirmed in Illinois: an EF-0 in Oswego, an EF-1 in Wilmington and an EF-1 from Mokena to Tinley Park.
The weather service also confirmed that a derecho moved across portions of the Midwest and Ohio River Valley, according to its website. A derecho is a “widespread and long-lived line of thunderstorms that produces significant wind damage.”
“The derecho produced swaths of widespread 70 to locally 100+ (miles per hour) straight-line winds across northeastern Illinois into northwestern Indiana that resulted in widespread wind damage across the south and southwest Chicago suburbs and northwest Indiana,” the NWS website says. “A peak wind gust of 99 (miles per hour) was recorded at Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, IN.”
Meteorologist Gino Izzi told the Post-Tribune Wednesday that the NWS Chicago office has issued more severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings this year than they have in recorded history. Izzi said that Lake, Porter and Newton counties were hit hardest in Indiana, saying that about 95% of Lake County residents were without power.
The Northern Indiana Public Service Company said in a statement Thursday afternoon that about 90% of its 235,012 customers who remained without power should have it restored by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 18. The remainder should have power by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 21.
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The communities most impacted include Cedar Lake, Chesterton, Crown Point, Dyer, East Chicago, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Highland, Hobart, LaPorte, Lake Station, Lowell, Merrillville, Michigan City, Munster, Portage, St. John, Schererville and Valparaiso.
“Our crews continue to uncover new damage as they assess affected areas and complete detailed assessments,” NIPSCO’s statement said. “The scope and geographic reach of this storm is extensive, spanning the majority of NIPSCO’s electric service area.”
Munster said Indiana National Guard staff was mobilized to assist its public works staff with cleanup efforts. Road crews were active in picking up uprooted trees and large branches lining streets across town, and there were some road closures due to power line repairs as service was restored to some areas of Munster.
School Town of Munster Communications Director Kim Peirick said Munster High School did sustain some roof and water damage, but the larger barrier to reopening them by Monday is a lack of power and downed trees at its schools and administration building.
“Our staff is working diligently to clear the grounds and clean the buildings to ensure a safe first day for students and staff. Safety is our number one priority, and we will not compromise on it,” Piereck wrote in an email.
The severe storms that swept through Lake County on August 11th left a mark on many of our neighborhoods, businesses, and families. Across our region, people are facing immediate challenges—from structural damage and power losses to urgent needs for basic supplies.
Legacy Foundation announced it has established a Lake County Disaster Relief Fund, kicked off by a $100,000 contribution from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation.
“We are actively coordinating with local non-profits, relief organizations, and municipal leaders to make sure every dollar raised is deployed efficiently where it is needed most,” the emailed statement said. “To our first responders, volunteers, and neighbors helping neighbors clear debris and lend a hand: thank you. We are proud to stand alongside you as we recover and rebuild together.”
Portage Mayor Austin Bonta said the city is issuing a call for experienced volunteers interested in assisting seniors, residents with disabilities and those in financial need with getting fallen and damaged trees removed from their property. Anyone interested in helping should email [email protected] to express interest.
Bonta said Thursday he has requested assistance from the Indiana National Guard.
“We definitely appreciate their deployment to our neighbors in Lake County, which was also heavily damaged by Tuesday’s storm and a tornado,” he said. “We’re also hopeful that they will be able to assist us here in Porter County soon.”
Portage Police were called to help numerous times to help with traffic at gas stations as residents filled their tanks and gas cans to fuel generators.
“Today was unusually busy,” Portage police Public Information Officer Rob Maynard said.
Other calls were to address disputes by neighbors — no physical fights, but verbal sparring over who’s responsible for damage at their homes.
“Your tree fell on my house but it’s not my fault, it’s your fault, stuff like that,” Maynard said.
Detectives didn’t have people coming in for interviews, so they decided to help clear out debris on Willowcreek Road, he said. “They brought personal chainsaws, stuff like that,” to do what they could to help the city in the storm’s aftermath.
Freelance reporter Doug Ross contributed to this report.