Indiana Seeks FEMA Disaster Declaration After 10 Days of Gary Outages
Updated
Updated · The Seattle Times · Aug 22
Indiana Seeks FEMA Disaster Declaration After 10 Days of Gary Outages
3 articles · Updated · The Seattle Times · Aug 22
Summary
Mike Braun on Friday asked FEMA for an expedited major disaster declaration as much of Gary entered a 10th day without electricity after the Aug. 11 derecho.
43,400 Northern Indiana Public Service customers still lacked power, down from more than 300,000 after the storm, with Gary restoration now projected by Tuesday.
99 mph winds in Gary toppled trees and power lines, emptying store shelves, spoiling medicine, shutting gas pumps and leaving residents dependent on shelters, food trucks and mobile medical aid.
Several residents filed a class-action lawsuit Friday accusing the utility of failing to trim trees near power lines, while the company called the damage unprecedented and cleanup a monumental undertaking.
Gary officials say recovery could take months, deepening complaints of neglect in a city where one-third of residents live in poverty and many fear the response would be faster in a wealthier area.