Gary Is Still Recovering From the August Storms — Here's How You Can Help

Written By Visit Miller Beach Team

A truck collects storm debris in Gary, Indiana, on September 7, 2026. Photo credit: Visit Miller Beach Gary

GARY, Indiana - On August 11, 2026, a powerful derecho brought wind gusts at 99 mph that swept through Northwest Indiana and caused significant damage. Gary was one of the hardest hit cities in the region, with about 38,000 households without power.

The most damage was caused by downed oak trees that crushed roofs, cars, blocked roads, and pulled down power lines. All neighborhoods in Gary were impacted. Many residents went two weeks without electricity, and dealt with spoiled food, lost medication, overheated homes and cell phones and medical devices they could not charge.

While residents waited for the lights to come back on, Gary’s community came together. Neighbors were outside, clearing fallen trees with borrowed chainsaws and trucks, block by block, long before the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO)’s crews showed up.

Gary residents were also active online throughout the outage — sharing updates, photos, and observations in live time that helped bring national attention to what the city was going through and put pressure on getting help here faster. By August 26th, just over 100 utility customers in the city were still experiencing outages, according to NIPSCO. 

Today, power is largely restored. But for many residents, getting the lights back on was only the first step - cleaning up the city will take much longer.

City of Gary Recovery Efforts

The City of Gary has been sharing regular updates throughout recovery. Since the August 11 storm, Mayor Eddie Melton has maintained a steady drumbeat of public briefings and press conferences. On August 23-24, he publicly called NIPSCO's pace of restoration "unacceptable.” On August 25, he announced that the President had approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Indiana.

Mayor Melton also sent NIPSCO a formal Recovery Action Plan. The plan lays out what the utility owes Gary residents and the community going forward — things like a 60-day disconnection moratorium, automatic bill credits for the outage period, reimbursement for spoiled food and medication, funding for residential tree and electrical repairs, and a multi-year commitment to hardening Gary's grid so this doesn't happen again. As the Mayor put it, "We need Gary's power grid to be as resilient as Gary's people."

For the latest official updates and resources, keep an eye on these official government communications channels:

The Greater Gary Storm Recovery and Relief Fund

If you're looking for the single best way to help, give to the Legacy Foundation's Greater Gary Storm Recovery and Relief Fund. The Legacy Foundation is Lake County's community foundation, and this fund channels donations directly to Gary residents and the local organizations doing the work on the ground. This fund is named directly in the City's own storm recovery page as the designated channel for community storm-relief contributions. If you can only give to one place, this is it.

More Ways to Support Gary

Beyond the organizations above, churches and faith communities across Gary have quietly done some of the heaviest lifting throughout recovery — organizing meals, opening their doors as gathering spaces, and checking in on their members.

Help has also come from World Central Kitchen, which was active in the city in the weeks after the storm, serving thousands of meals in partnership with local restaurants and volunteers. The City of Gary has also partnered with various corporations, celebrities, influencers and public figures to distribute aid. If your organization is running an ongoing relief effort, we'd love to include it — email us at info@visitmillerbeachgary.com.

Before donating to any organization you don't already know, be sure to check with a resource like the IRS's Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm the organization is legitimate and to avoid scams.

Gary, the Comeback City

This isn't the first hard chapter Gary has experienced, and we are proud to say that despite the difficulties of the storm we have seen neighbors coming together to help each other all over the city. Whether you're local and can lend a hand with cleanup, or you're a friend of Gary from further away who wants to send support, we appreciate you helping our community get back on its feet.

If you know of a local effort that should be included in this article, please reach out to info@visitmillerbeachgary.com and let us know.

Storm Recovery FAQ

  • A: Yes. Financial assistance is available, including direct payments through the City of Gary's Derecho Emergency Household Assistance Program, Indiana's State Disaster Relief Fund, and property tax reassessment for storm-damaged homes and businesses. For full details and how to apply, visit gary.gov/stormrecovery. Beware of scams — always apply through official City or State channels, never a number or link you weren't directed to from an official source.

  • A: Yes. On August 25, 2026, a Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4933-DR) was approved for Indiana, and Lake County is designated for Individual Assistance.

    Eligible Gary residents can apply for help with storm-related losses and expenses. Apply online at disasterassistance.gov, by phone at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 711), 7 days a week).

  • A: 211 is a free, confidential helpline that connects residents to local disaster relief, food, housing, and utility assistance resources. It's not a government agency itself — it's a referral service that points you to the right local resource. Just dial 2-1-1.

  • A: Yes, Gary’s Marquette Park and beaches are open. While the storm caused significant damage across Gary, they have not been closed.

  •  A:  Yes, Gary’s beaches are open and safe to enjoy. As with any visit, check current weather conditions and any posted signage before heading out, especially after a major storm.

  •  A: The 2026 Gary Air Show was cancelled due to storm damage throughout Northwest Indiana following the August 11, 2026  storm. For details and updates, visit: https://www.southshorecva.com/air-show/

  • A: Visit! Many local restaurants and shops in Gary lost food and revenue when the power outage forced them to throw out spoiled inventory. Eating at a local restaurant or shopping at a local business is one of the most direct ways to help — it supports real financial recovery, not just goodwill.

Visit Miller Beach Team
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