As tens of thousands of people are still without power after the Aug. 11 derecho, Gary and other highly impacted cities are offering resources for their residents.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton put out a message to residents Tuesday, saying the city has partnered with AT&T, waiving overage charges and providing unlimited talk, text and data for eligible customers in storm-impacted areas through Sept. 11.
The company has also provided Gary residents with device charging lockers at Red Cross-supported shelters, including the city’s YWCA, located at 150 W. 15th Ave. Verizon Wireless has also provided WiFi and charging stations to the YWCA.
FirstNet, which is partnered with AT&T, deployed a satellite truck to Gary’s NIPSCO facility to support utility recovery efforts, according to the city.
“Keeping our residents connected is an important part of our recovery,” Melton said in a statement. “We are grateful to our partners at AT&T and Verizon Wireless for stepping up to support our residents and the agencies working around the clock to help Gary recover.”
According to the update, the city has assessed 2,097 damage sites and requests for assistance. More than 80% of reports involve fallen trees and blocked roads, and the highest concentration of damage is in the Glen Park, Miller, Aetna, Midtown and Tolleston neighborhoods.
“We have made progress, with (75%) of reported blocked roads now reopened to traffic,” Melton said. “At the same time, we know there is still significant work ahead of us. We continue to assess conditions throughout our neighborhoods and are developing a strategic plan to address debris removal and determine repair costs for long-term restoration.”
In Northwest Indiana, Gary has the most residents without power, according to data available on NIPSCO’s website. As of about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 23,959 Gary residents were still without power.
NIPSCO does not have an estimated restoration time for Gary, according to its website, although estimated times are available for the majority of Northwest Indiana’s cities. According to its website, if a city isn’t listed, it’s part of a larger service area within those listed or is still under assessment.
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At about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 83,406 NIPSCO customers remain without power.
“Since the storm began, NIPSCO has mobilized all available resources, including our own crews, mutual aid personnel, qualified contractors, affiliated employees, and support from the Indiana National Guard and law enforcement,” according to a previous emailed statement. “We understand the frustration of customers who have been without power for an extended period of time. We share that frustration and are committed to restoring every customer as quickly as possible.
“However, restoration is dictated by the severity and extent of the damage. In some areas, repairs to major transmission and distribution infrastructure must be completed before work can begin on smaller sections of the system serving individual neighborhoods. Every community matters to us, and restoration priorities are based on system needs, safety considerations and the work required to restore service to the greatest number of customers as efficiently as possible.”
Gary has various other resources available to residents without power, including a medical oxygen cylinder refill statement from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Indiana University Northwest, until power is restored. The oxygen refill station is open to anyone affected by the storms from surrounding communities as well.
On Thursday, the Gospel Truth Apostolic Ministry, located at 5829 W. 15th Ave., will distribute free food starting at noon. Gary’s website also lists Portage High School, located at 6450 US 6, and Living Hope Church in Merrillville, located at 9000 W. Taft St., as other locations serving free food, starting at 4 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
Gary residents are encouraged to report damage to either Indiana 211 or Gary 311, according to its website, and to contact the American Red Cross for additional resources.
City Spokesman Steve Segura was unable to immediately comment on how resources are provided to residents who cannot leave their homes due to illness or injury.
The city of Portage, which has damage comparable to a hurricane, also does not yet have an estimated power restoration time, according to NIPSCO’s website. As of about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, 81,97 Portage residents were still without power.
Mayor Austin Bonta was also unable to immediately comment on how resources are available to homebound residents.
According to the city’s website, Portage residents are encouraged to call Indiana 211 to report damage and see if they’re available for assistance through the State Disaster Relief Fund. The city can also help those without access to a phone or internet.
The Portage Township food pantry will distribute perishable and non-perishable food from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday for township residents. Those participating must provide identification or proof of residency.
Charging stations are available in the Portage Police Department parking lot, located at 6260 Central Ave., and Woodland Village RV Park, located at 5757 US-20, according to the city’s Facebook page. Both charging sites are open 24 hours.
According to an announcement from Bonta, Portage is hosting “a day of healing and hope” from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Founders Square, offering free food, live music and games. Bonta said in a Facebook statement that the event was created after various groups reached out to him after having events canceled due to the derecho.
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“I know that the recovery process is not over in our city,” Bonta said in his announcement. “Many of us are still waiting on power and dealing with a lot of uncertainty about the near future. Some of us may even be facing uncertainty about the far future. … Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to clean up our city and support your neighbors since last week’s terrible storm. You have kept our city strong.”