Northwest Indiana Assesses Storm Damage After 1 Dies in Explosion, 4-Year-Old Killed by Falling Tree
Updated
Updated · WLS-TV · Aug 12
Northwest Indiana Assesses Storm Damage After 1 Dies in Explosion, 4-Year-Old Killed by Falling Tree
3 articles · Updated · WLS-TV · Aug 12
Summary
Portage and other Northwest Indiana communities began cleanup after Tuesday’s severe storms, with officials probing a house explosion that killed one resident and prompted an emergency declaration.
Blocked roads, widespread outages and storm damage complicated the response; neighbors reported a loud boom and fire at the destroyed Portage home, while some earlier said they smelled gas before the blast.
Power problems are still disrupting daily life Wednesday, with schools closed in Valparaiso, Crown Point, Hobart and Gary, and Gary Transit suspending regular and paratransit service.
A 4-year-old boy also died in Jennings County after a tree fell onto a home in Geneva Township just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday during the same storm system.
Gov. Mike Braun is set to assess damage in Hammond on Wednesday, as shelters remain open in Portage and forecasters warn another round of severe weather could hit the region.