Indiana power outage stretches into a second week, leaving some families without answers

For some residents in Northwest Indiana, the hardest part of a prolonged power outage is not just sitting in the dark — it is hearing that the lights may stay off for several more days.

In a recent TikTok video, content creator and small-business owner Karen (@regionwaxstudio) captured that frustration as NIPSCO customers faced the possibility of an eighth day without power.

Here's what to know

Karen said in the video: "It is day seven, 8 p.m. here in northwest Indiana, specifically Highland, Indiana. Still no power in my home."

@regionwaxstudio NWI is anyone else also going on Day 8 no power!! #nipsco #poweroutage #nwi #highlandindiana ♬ Clair de lune/Debussy - もつ

In an update on Aug. 20, NIPSCO said power might not be fully restored until the 25th, according to WGN9, leaving some areas without service for more than a week. For people already trying to sort out meals, work, sleep, and transportation, an estimate like that can turn a serious outage into a crisis managed one day at a time.

Commenters from nearby communities shared similar experiences. One wrote, "Girl I'm in Highland too, and we are still without power but our neighbors across the street do ... torture." Another added, "Merrillville day 9 just begun."

More background

With food at home already spoiled, the creator said they chose to get pizza rather than try to cook during the outage.

Spoiled groceries can mean wasted money and wasted food, adding another burden for households already under stress. That can be especially hard on families living paycheck to paycheck, older adults, and small-business owners whose responsibilities do not stop when the power goes out.

The creator described the emotional toll, saying, "It is stressful. It is frustrating."

One commenter expressed that same exhaustion, writing, "I live in Highland too. And my heart drop when I saw we won't get power until next week. I'm exhausted and depressed ughhh."

What can be done?

Clear communication is one of the most important needs during a lengthy outage. Utilities can reduce some of the uncertainty by providing more localized updates, more accurate restoration windows, and clearer explanations when estimates change.

At the household level, residents can document spoiled food and other outage-related expenses, keep phones charged whenever possible, and check on neighbors who may need additional support.

Local businesses can also become informal relief hubs, whether by offering hot meals, a place to recharge devices, or simply a temporary escape from the stress at home. Karen, who runs her own wax studio, offered free brow waxes for her community. While freshly groomed eyebrows may not be considered essential, that small gesture can bring a bit of relief during stressful times. 

When Karen offered the service in the comments, one person replied, "OMG, please let me know, I will need that." And another added, "Same, I saw that update last night and wanted to just cry, I almost lost it this weekend, it was so hot and muggy." 

The video ends with: "But praying for a better night. I hope. I hope that it's a blessing and a miracle that NIPSCO just magically appears like the Tooth Fairy and fixes our light."

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