Residents of La Porte County work together after severe weather outages

LA PORTE COUNTY, Ind. -- Days after severe weather swept through LaPorte County, many residents remained without power Friday as crews worked to restore electricity across the area.

In Union Mills, residents said downed trees and power lines remain across yards and roads.

“We’re sitting in a little community going, ‘Do they know we’re here?’” said James Spier. “But they’ve got to fix other feeders before they can get here, so we understand. But it’s tough.”

Spier said a tree fell onto a nearby house during the storm. Other downed wires remain on the ground, but he said restoring those lines is only part of the process because crews also have to repair the equipment those lines connect to.

Several families have left their homes temporarily, staying in motels or with relatives while they wait for power to return.

Residents who have remained in the area said they are also looking out for neighbors, including delivering jugs of water and checking on their well-being.

In the city of La Porte, businesses that retained power have also stepped in to help.

Joshua Montemayor, owner of JJ’s Side Out Bar and Grill, said the restaurant has been providing hot food and charging stations for people affected by the outages.

“People are diabetic, and they need a way to store insulin because it’s supposed to be cold, and so we’re giving away ice for those folks,” Montemayor said.

NIPSCO’s latest update estimates that most areas will have power restored by Tuesday, Aug. 18.