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TRACKING 69196 EVENTS · 23198 SOURCES
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August 2026 Midwest severe storms and flooding

One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.

11 DAYS
69 FACTS
6 EVENTS
6 SOURCES
FIRST ENTRY AUG 13
AUG 23 · Day 11

Power outages persist in Indiana after deadly storms

At the height of the storms, 374,500 customers had no electricity.

NIPSCO disagreed with the characterization of its vegetation management practices.

NIPSCO said its vegetation management spend has more than doubled since 2016.

“At night we're sweating, we're irritable, we have children to look out for, elderly people who need electricity for oxygen tanks,”
SHATIYA HARDIN verbatim
AUG 23 · Day 11

Ongoing Power Outages Impact Thousands in Indiana Following Severe Storms

Wind gusts in Gary, Indiana peaked at 99mph (159kmh) according to the National Weather Service.

Jack Tipold said he was forced to abandon a dental procedure and was discharged without adequate pain medication.

One third of Gary's roughly 70,000 residents live in poverty according to US Census data.

“At night we're sweating, we're irritable, we have children to look out for, elderly people who need electricity for oxygen tanks,”
SHATIYA HARDIN verbatim
AUG 23 · Day 11

Thousands without power in Gary, Indiana after severe storms

As of Sunday morning, almost 30,000 customers were still without power, while power had been restored to more than 345,000 customers since the storm.

Gary, Indiana runs along the southern shore of Lake Michigan and was formerly home to the world's largest steel mill.

Nipsco estimated Gary would have its electricity restored by Wednesday.

“At night we're sweating, we're irritable, we have children to look out for, elderly people who need electricity for oxygen tanks,”
SHATIYA HARDIN verbatim
AUG 22 · Day 10

Power Outages in Indiana Enter 11th Day Following Severe Storms

A four-year-old child was killed in Geneva Township when a tree fell onto a home.

A proposed class-action lawsuit was filed against Nipsco accusing the utility of failing to trim trees that knocked down power lines.

The National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center recorded straight-line wind speeds of 99 mph in Gary.

“understands the impact that prolonged outages can have on our customers and communities, particularly following storms, and in particular, the severe weather events that caused unprecedented damage across Nipsco’s electric system.”
AUG 13 · Day 1

Severe Midwest weather spawns tornadoes and flash flooding

An Ohio resident of Roseville died during a health emergency when first responders could not reach them due to flooded roads.

More than 650,000 customers were without power Wednesday afternoon in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

Officials in Portage, Indiana, were investigating whether severe weather played a role in a reported house explosion that killed a person.

“Because of my house being very old, when the water was coming up I was very worried about the electric outlets that were on the floor, because there was water literally coming out of them, so I was afraid that my children were going to get shocked.”
KAITLYN RODGERS verbatim
AUG 12

Severe storms strike Midwest, 3 dead, nearly 1 million without power

Portage Mayor Austin Bonta signed a declaration of emergency and said roads were impassable Tuesday.

Both tornadoes caused damage consistent with EF1 tornadoes.

The home where Tammy McKee lives with her elderly mother in Frankfort, Illinois, was a total loss after a suspected weather-related fire.

“Things are not going to be fully restored and back to normal later today or tomorrow, the day after that.”
ANDREW GINTHER verbatim
Quote copied with attribution