Two weeks after destructive storms and flooding throughout Indiana, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Gov. Mike Braun announced the declaration and thanked Trump in a late Tuesday news release.
“This critical support will help Hoosiers recovering from historic storms and flooding,” Braun said in the news release. “We’re grateful for this partnership as we work to rebuild, recover, and help communities get back on their feet.”
According to the news release, Braun requested an expedited major disaster declaration on Aug. 20. Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties join a list of 21 counties receiving individual assistance and a list of 11 counties receiving public assistance.
Millions of federal dollars will assist recovery efforts, according to Braun’s release.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, said in a statement that the declaration is “an important step forward for Northwest Indiana.” He thanked Braun, the Trump administration, local officials, emergency management personnel, first responders, utility crews and volunteers for their assistance.
Mrvan’s office will continue to work with FEMA, communities and state and local officials to show residents what assistance and resources are available.
“To everyone who has been affected, please know that you are not alone. Northwest Indiana has shown extraordinary strength, compassion, and resilience throughout this disaster,” Mrvan said. “We will continue standing together, helping our neighbors, and doing everything possible to ensure our communities come back stronger.”
To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call (800) 621-3362. Residents are advised to document their damage, contact their insurance company, and have documentation available — including repair estimates and receipts — that FEMA may ask for.
U.S. Sens. Jim Banks, R-Indiana, and Todd Young, R-Indiana, also praised the disaster declaration in separate statements.
“This federal assistance is much needed,” Young said, adding that he’s grateful to those who are working to help communities recover and rebuild, including local officials, utility crews and linemen.
Banks said in a statement that Trump’s declaration came one day after he and Gary Mayor Eddie Melton updated him on Northwest Indiana’s recovery efforts “and the importance of federal support.”
Melton called the declaration “welcome news” in a late Tuesday evening news release. He said it opens doors to “critical federal recovery resources” for individuals and households.
“Tonight is a tremendous victory for the people of Gary and for communities throughout Northwest Indiana,” Melton said. “On behalf of our city, I want to thank President Trump for approving this disaster declaration within 24 hours of my call with the President, and ensuring that federal resources will be available to residents, families, businesses, and local governments working to recover from these historic storms.”
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The city of Gary has been the focus of national media coverage following the Aug. 11 derecho. Gary residents were slated to get power back by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, as well as Portage and Lake Station.
As of 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to NIPSCO’s website, storm restoration efforts related to the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent weather events were substantially complete.
“While crews continue working through a limited number of individual outage cases, restoration activities have concluded across the broader service territory,” according to the utility’s 7 a.m. update.
At about 4 p.m. Wednesday, 630 NIPSCO customers were still without power. Of those, 352 were Gary residents. Gary, Portage and Lake Station residents went the longest without power, according to previous updates from NIPSCO, as they were slated to receive power Tuesday, two weeks after the Aug. 11 storm.
Lake Station still had 32 people without power Wednesday afternoon, and Portage had 77.
At Tuesday evening’s Gary Common Council meeting, Councilman Kenneth Whisenton, D-at large, thanked community members and partners for their help with storm recovery and power restoration.
“We all have heard countless stories over the past two weeks about what Gary is and what Gary isn’t,” Whisenton said. “But let me tell you what I’ve seen with my own two eyes. I’ve seen neighbors break out tool belts from 30 years ago when they worked in the mill to help neighbors restore generators. I’ve seen people 70, 80 (years old) coming out to lend me a hand chopping down a tree.”
Whisenton also thanked his fellow council members for their help, including Councilman Myles Tolliver, D-at large, who cooked meals; President Linda Barnes Caldwell, D-5th, who drove around Gary to help residents; Councilwoman Marian Ivey, D-4th, who volunteered with Whisenton to pass out goods; and Councilman Dwayne Halliburton, D-2nd, who deejayed at events to keep residents’ spirits up.
He also praised volunteers and community members who made sure that no one felt alone during storm recovery.
“I have seen God, I have seen humanity,” Whisenton said. “I have seen Gary, I have seen beauty in all its despair. … The city of Gary has made me so proud to be a councilman here, and it’s filled my heart day in and day out.”
Tolliver acknowledged Gary citizens still without power Tuesday night, adding that he also was still without power.
“As a council, we will still be making those calls to NIPSCO to ensure that things are being done correctly and your power is still being restored,” he said. “So don’t think that we have stopped our efforts. We’re still pushing to make sure that things are being done the right way.”