Rebuilding Together: NWI Communities Rally After August 11 Storm

On August 11, Lake County was struck by a derecho windstorm reaching 100 miles per hour winds, leaving a path of uprooted trees, damaged homes and infrastructure in neighborhoods around The Region.. 

As a result, more than 300,000 Lake County residents were left without power, marking the largest power outage in NIPSCO history . During these unprecedented times, NWI residents are left scrambling for shelter, resources, and food as they wait for their power to be restored. But, in this effort, Lake County, as a community, has joined forces and in a moment that could’ve felt like a dead end, we came together and assisted one another during these unimaginable times. 

Amongst those communities were the Terrell family, who had been without power themselves. Pastor Alesia Hillsman-Terrell of St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in Chicago, IL, and Pastor Rameen Jackson of St. Timothy Church in Gary, joined forces with Community Advocates of Northern Indiana (CANI) to host the Third & McKinley Relief Block Party.

The block party brought the people together, offering free food, music, games, and activities for all ages, providing the chance to relieve some of the stress that came with the power outage, whether it was worrying about what they would eat that night or finding a way to enjoy themselves. CANI was proud to be on site providing health services like behavioral health screenings and blood pressure checks for those in need. 

The relief block party was only one of many extraordinary ways NWI is coming together to rebuild following this historic storm. It’s an important reminder of the mission we hold dear, “Together, We’re Better”. 

If the August 11th storm caused significant damage to your home and/or you are struggling with food, shelter, or other resources as a result, contact 211 for assistance in finding help.