Gary activates emergency response after storm; trees, outages, debris reported
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Summary
City officials said they activated an emergency response after a storm—reporting downed trees on homes and cars, more than 13,000 NIPSCO outages across Northwest Indiana, no confirmed fatalities, and a coordinated cleanup with county and regional partners.
Gary city staff said the city activated an emergency response after a late spring storm that residents described as a tornado touching down in parts of the city.
A city staff member said, “We just learned from the city of Gary that they activated their emergency response.” City crews and partner agencies were working to clear trees, remove debris and restore services, the staff member said.
Why it matters: City officials said the event damaged multiple homes and businesses, blocked streets with fallen trees and caused widespread power outages. The council meeting heard the update so residents and neighboring jurisdictions could coordinate assistance and safety messaging.
City staff reported the immediate public-safety priorities were clearing main streets and thoroughfares, searching residences for victims, and keeping residents away from downed power lines. “If you see a power line down, assume that it is live,” the staff member said.
Officials said crews completed primary and secondary checks of houses in affected neighborhoods and that “everyone is accounted for” with no reports of missing people. The staff member said there were no confirmed fatalities “that we know of at this point.”
The city thanked multiple partners helping with recovery: the Indiana Department of Transportation, Lake County government, the Red Cross, the Gary Sanitary District, the Gary Chicago International Airport (which provided trucks and payloaders), and the mayor of Hobart, whose public works crews helped clear trees.
Public-safety reminders included staying away from downed power lines, seeking shelter while weather remains unpredictable, and being patient while crews clear main routes. The city also noted utility provider NIPSCO reported more than 13,000 outages across Northwest Indiana.
Ending note: City staff emphasized that recovery is ongoing and asked residents to report hazardous conditions and to monitor official Gary City channels for updates and safety instructions.
