The city of Gary has released a 238-page account of how it responded to the Aug. 11 storm that left thousands of residents without power for nearly two weeks and lays out several changes that residents will see soon including the creation of a new role of emergency manager and the installation of 10 outdoor warning sirens.
The Derecho Storm Report covers police, fire, and sanitary district operations. It also reports on shelters, food and cash assistance, debris cleanup, and the city’s demands of NIPSCO.
“As the city transitions from immediate crisis response to long-term rebuilding, this report stands as a testament to our community’s strength and a blueprint for a more resilient future,” Mayor Eddie Melton said. “The lessons learned from this storm are helping us build stronger systems, improve emergency communications, and better protect our residents.”
The report, dated Oct. 21 and released this week, was written as part of a filing for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is expected to reimburse most of the city’s costs.
The derecho brought a 99 mph wind gust at the Gary/Chicago International Airport and knocked out power to about 374,000 NIPSCO customers across the utility’s territory at its peak, the largest blackout in the company’s history. According to the report, one person in Gary, an unhoused woman struck by debris during the storm, died.
Gary was hit harder and longer than anywhere else in NIPSCO’s service area. More than 27,000 buildings in the city were still without power on Aug. 19, eight days after the storm. A week later, on Aug. 26, about 2,500 Gary customers remained in the dark, out of roughly 3,500 across Lake County.
The outages also affected the city’s first responders. All eight active Gary fire stations lost power on Aug. 11. According to the report, Station 4 on West 25th Avenue was without a generator and did not get power back until Aug. 26.
Donley Safety has been contracted to install the 10 high-powered rotating sirens across the city that will connect to Lake County’s warning network for a total cost of $573,941.90.
Other changes are aimed at keeping critical services running. After the storm, the Gary Sanitation District installed six new generators for backup power at its treatment plant.
For now, the city awaits FEMA and state review of recovery projects through late 2026 and into 2027, the city’s reimbursement begins once each project is approved.
What the city asked of NIPSCO
Included in the report is the full Recovery Action Plan that Melton delivered to NIPSCO in August.
The plan asks NIPSCO for immediate customer relief, including a 60-day disconnection moratorium, waived late fees, automatic bill credits covering the entire outage, and reimbursement for spoiled food and medicine. It also asks the utility to put money into Gary’s recovery from weatherhead repairs and tree removal to food banks, sirens, and backup power.
In September, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission voted to investigate NIPSCO’s storm response. A state legislative study committee also recommended that lawmakers require utilities to file yearly emergency restoration plans and have the IURC audit their tree-trimming practices every two years.
The city requested a 30-day after-action report and a breakdown of which Gary neighborhoods were without power for more than 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours, or longer than a week. For the long term, the city requested a three-to-five-year investment plan for Gary’s grid and an annual reliability report for the city.
NIPSCO plans to release an internal audit of its storm response before Thanksgiving.
Residents can read the full report on the city’s storm recovery page at https://www.gary.gov/stormrecovery
Still have storm debris on your property?
The city is setting up a Private Property Debris Removal program. The Gary Storm Relief Fund has set aside $660,000 for the program. Residents can call 311 for more details.
FEMA lets the city clear private property only in limited circumstances. The debris must be a product of the storm, sit in the declared disaster area, and pose a serious threat to public health or safety. The city also needs FEMA’s approval and the owner’s permission, so not every property will qualify.
What you will need:
Proof of ownership: deed or title, mortgage statement, property tax bill or receipt, county assessor record, or insurance declarations page.
Insurance: a copy of your policy, a denial letter from your insurer, or a signed note that you have no insurance. FEMA won’t pay for claims that insurance covers.
Photos and forms: photos of the debris, a government photo ID, and a signed right-of-entry form and hold-harmless agreement. City staff will provide the forms.
Renters cannot apply themselves. Only property owners can make requests. The city will review each request and may inspect the property. Work is scheduled once FEMA approves it. Demolitions may take longer as additional environmental and historic reviews are needed.
