7 Days in the Dark: Indiana’s Desperate Fight for Power
Northwest Indiana Food Banks Overwhelmed After Week-Long Power Outages
GARY, Ind. — One week after powerful storms tore through northwest Indiana, thousands of families are still struggling without electricity, food, and basic necessities. Local food banks, schools, and townships are working around the clock — but they’re running on empty.
What Happened?
A massive storm system hit northwest Indiana one week ago, knocking out power across multiple communities including Gary, Lake Station, and Hobart. While utility crews work to restore electricity, the aftermath has created a second crisis: hunger and displacement.
The Situation on the Ground
Schools Stepping Up as Emergency Hubs
- West Side Leadership Academy in Gary hosted a mobile food pantry
- 150 people served before food ran out completely
- Gary Community School Corporation handed out 700 grab-and-go lunches over two days — also ran out
- Without refrigeration, schools had to throw away spoiled food and donate what was left to nearby food banks
- Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes says families are asking for help with food, clothing, and shelter
Important Point: Even when power returns, schools cannot reopen immediately. Buildings must be inspected room by room for safety — checking fire systems, water leaks, fallen trees, and structural damage.
A Regional Crisis, Not Just One Town
Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll emphasizes:
"This is not a Lake Station problem, a Hobart problem — this is a regional problem."
- Fire departments have become community hubs offering:
- Free meals
- Cooling centers
- Phone charging stations
- Safe places to rest
- Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams reports:
- Township budget: under $1 million/year
- Staff: fewer than 10 employees
- Already distributed all stockpiled food
- No current way to replenish supplies
- Community cooking hot dogs and hamburgers daily for residents
Real Stories from Real People
Georgia Hatfield (Hobart Resident)
- 6 days without power
- Refrigerator completely empty when electricity returned
- Second major storm to wipe out her family’s food supply
- "Just seeing strawberries — I feel like I won the lottery having fruit in our house again."
- Neighbors now sharing info the old-fashioned way: talking face-to-face since internet is still down
Susana Pedrosa (Hobart Resident)
- Caring for 77-year-old roommate
- Struggling to find a generator
- Came for food and water — grateful for the help
Susanna Enslen (Hobart Township Staff Member)
- Own home still without power
- 87-year-old mother evacuated to South Bend — now dealing with appliance and water heater issues after power returned
- Township staff working while facing same disasters at home
- Served 700+ meals in two days
- Compares destruction scale to Hurricane Katrina
- "The disaster our staff is feeling is the same thing the community’s feeling. We’re still showing up."
What We Still Don’t Know
| Uncertainty | Impact |
|---|---|
| Full scope of damage | Recovery timeline unclear for each community |
| Secondary effects | Spoiled food, water contamination, home damage, no internet, gas shortages |
| School reopening dates | Buildings need full safety inspections first |
| Long-term food supply | Food banks and townships have zero reserves left |
What’s Next? How You Can Help
Immediate Needs
- Food donations — non-perishables, ready-to-eat meals
- Water — bottled and bulk
- Generators — for elderly and medically vulnerable residents
- Volunteers — to distribute supplies, staff cooling centers
- Fuel/gas cards — many can’t reach distribution sites
How to Donate
Hobart Township Trustee Fred Williams says:
"If anybody has anything they’d like to donate, please reach out to Mayor Bill [Carroll] or myself. We’ll come pick it up."
Contact your local township office, mayor’s office, or school district to arrange drop-off or pickup.
Why Neighbors Helping Neighbors Matters Most
With official systems overwhelmed and communications down, community networks have become lifelines:
- Sharing info about open food pantries
- Checking on elderly neighbors
- Pooling resources (generators, coolers, rides)
- Cooking communal meals
Important Point: In disasters, social connections save lives. A knocked-on door or shared sandwich can mean more than any official program in the first critical days.
Summary
- One week post-storm, northwest Indiana faces a hunger crisis on top of power outages
- Food banks, schools, and townships are maxed out — budgets tiny, staff exhausted, supplies gone
- Real families are choosing between medicine and meals, eating hot dogs for days, celebrating strawberries like treasure
- Recovery is uneven — power returning doesn’t mean crisis over (empty fridges, unsafe buildings, no internet)
- Biggest need right now: YOU — donations, volunteers, neighborly check-ins
- This is a regional disaster requiring regional response — no single town can handle it alone
FAQ
How long have people been without power?
Most areas: 6–7 days. Some still have no electricity, and even those with power face empty refrigerators and damaged appliances.
Why can’t schools just reopen when power comes back?
Buildings need room-by-room safety inspections — fire alarms, sprinklers, structural integrity, water damage, and fallen debris all must be cleared first.
Are food banks completely empty?
Yes. Multiple distribution sites (school pantry, township stockpile) ran out within hours. Townships have no budget to restock on their own.
What’s the most needed donation right now?
Ready-to-eat food (no cooking needed), bottled water, and gas cards. Many families can’t cook without power and can’t drive far for help.
How can I verify where to donate locally?
Contact Hobart Township Trustee’s Office, Lake Station Mayor’s Office, or Gary Community School Corporation — they’re coordinating pickups and distribution.
Source: Interviews with Dr. Yvonne Stokes (Gary Schools), Mayor Bill Carroll (Lake Station), Trustee Fred Williams (Hobart Township), residents Georgia Hatfield & Susana Pedrosa, and township staffer Susanna Enslen.