Gary, Indiana, residents get notices saying storm-damaged weatherhead repairs are on them

Orange door notices have added a new worry for some Gary, Indiana, households still waiting on electricity: if a storm damaged the weatherhead on a home, the repair bill may fall to the homeowner.

The possibility of paying for that work has fueled anger among residents already bearing the costs of spoiled food, generator use, and an extended outage.

Here's what to know

In a TikTok video, Standaloneomar (@standaloneomar), a creator tracking the blackout, said it was "Day 15 of no power in Gary, Indiana."

@standaloneomar Visit the Legacy Foundation Individual Assistance Portal. Phone Line: Call the Legacy Foundation directly at 219-736-1880. [1] #garyindiana #poweroutage #shedlightongary #legacyfoun #fyp ♬ original sound - Standaloneomar

The creator said that "some Gary residents are getting orange notes on their doors about weatherheads," adding that if storm damage affected that equipment, "you may be responsible for getting it repaired."

The video framed that notice as another financial setback for people who have already spent money on food, generators, and other needs caused by the outage.

For families told the repair is theirs to cover, getting service restored could come down to whether they can take on one more emergency expense.

One wrote, "This is truly ridiculous," while another said, "The fact that they sent out bills already is WILD."

More background

By the time those repair notices appeared, residents had already spent days dealing with storm damage and a prolonged power outage.

Spoiled food drains household budgets. Generators and fuel add more costs. Missed work and disrupted schedules can put even more strain on finances. Layer on a weatherhead repair notice, and what began as a utility problem can become a housing-cost emergency.

The creator also linked that frustration to billing, saying their own service had returned but that "NIPSCO just sent me the Bill for this month."

What's being done?

The video did more than spotlight the problem; it also pointed residents toward a source of help for those who qualify.

According to the creator, Legacy Foundation has a weatherhead assistance program for qualifying Gary homeowners.

The creator said licensed electricians can complete basic storm-related repairs at no cost for eligible homeowners. The caption directed residents to use the Legacy Foundation Individual Assistance Portal or call the Legacy Foundation at 219-736-1880.

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