Share to ClassroomIndiana City Waits Twelve Days for Power
Strong storms hit the middle of the United States on 11 August. They brought tornadoes and floods, and seven people died. The city of Gary, Indiana, was hit very hard. The wind reached 99 miles per hour (159 km/h) . The storm passed quickly, but almost two weeks later many homes still had no electricity. The power company, called NIPSCO, gave power back to more than 306,000 customers. But 68,000 homes and businesses were still waiting.
Life without power is very hard in Gary. About one third of the city's 70,000 people are poor. Families threw away food that went bad. They waited in line for hot meals and looked for places to charge their phones. Schools stayed closed because fallen trees made them unsafe. Experts say the danger grows every day. Generators can make poisonous gas indoors, and medical machines can stop working.
Many people in Gary are angry. A group of residents took NIPSCO to court. They say the company did not cut the trees near its power lines. The company says it did nothing wrong. Workers from all over the country are fixing the broken lines. Volunteers give out food and other help. Religious leaders say twelve days without power is too long.
