⚡ 265,000 RESTORED, 97,000 STILL OUT... AND SOMEBODY SHOT AT THE PEOPLE TRYING TO TURN THE LIGHTS BACK ON?! 🤦🏾‍♀️

📍NORTHWEST INDIANA | You know what? These KNUCKLEHEADS BELONG TO TO YOU......Sometimes the story writes the sarcasm all by itself.

As of 9 p.m. Monday, NIPSCO reported that approximately 265,000 customers had their electricity restored, while roughly 97,000 customers remained without power following the devastating storms that hammered Northwest Indiana.

That means thousands of people are still dealing with dark houses, spoiled food, dead phone batteries, no air conditioning and days without electricity.

And while crews are out there trying to put Northwest Indiana back together...

SOMEBODY DECIDED TO SHOOT AT A NIPSCO TRUCK.

Sir. Ma'am. Whoever.

THEM THE PEOPLE WE NEED! 😩

🔫 YES, SOMEBODY ACTUALLY FIRED AT THE NIPSCO VEHICLE

Early Saturday morning in Gary, two NIPSCO employees were surveying storm damage in the 200 block of Rutledge Street when someone opened fire on their company Jeep.

Police say the Jeep was hit twice.

And here's the part that'll make your stomach drop: one of those bullets lodged in the back of a headrest.

Fortunately, neither employee was injured. Police have not said whether the workers were specifically targeted, and the shooter had not been identified in the initial reports.

But NIPSCO wasn't about to have crews climbing poles while bullets were flying.

Restoration operations in Gary were temporarily paused, and the city increased security for NIPSCO workers before crews resumed their work.

🚨 LADY RED HAS QUESTIONS...

Now wait a DAMN minute.

People have been sitting in the dark for DAYS.

Everybody wants their lights back.

Everybody wants the refrigerator running.

Everybody wants the Wi-Fi.

Everybody wants the air conditioning.

And somebody's bright idea was:

"You know who I should shoot at?

THE PEOPLE FIXING THE ELECTRICITY."

🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

Baby, we cannot make this make sense.

That's like being stranded on the side of the road and throwing bricks at the tow truck.

WHO RAISED Y'ALL?!

⚡ MEANWHILE, THE CREWS ARE STILL WORKING

This restoration effort follows an extraordinary storm that NIPSCO described as its most severe storm event, with massive damage to electrical infrastructure across northern Indiana. The utility brought in outside assistance as crews worked through downed trees, damaged poles, flooding and other hazards.

So yes, people have every right to be frustrated about being without electricity for days.

But shooting anywhere near the people working to restore it ain't frustration. That's stupidity with ammunition.

Those workers have families waiting for them too.

Let them do their damn jobs and BRING THE LIGHTS BACK ON.

🪖 EXTRA HELP IS ON THE GROUND, AND THERE'S HELP FOR RESIDENTS TOO

With 97,000 customers still without electricity as of 9 p.m. Monday, this restoration effort is far too big for NIPSCO crews to handle alone. NIPSCO says 265,000 customers have already been restored, but repeated storms from August 11 through August 17 caused approximately 362,000 outages altogether.

NIPSCO employees are now getting additional manpower from affiliated utility companies, while the Indiana National Guard has been activated to assist with storm recovery in Northwest Indiana. 

Basically, everybody who can help put Northwest Indiana back together is being called to the field.

And let's not forget what these crews are walking into: downed trees, damaged power lines, destroyed equipment, blocked areas and dangerous conditions.

So again...

LET THESE PEOPLE WORK! WE NEED THEM LIGHTS BACK ON! ⚡

❤️ STILL WITHOUT POWER? HERE'S WHERE TO START

For residents who are still in the dark, don't just sit there wondering who to call.

NIPSCO outage/emergency line: 1-800-464-7726. This line operates 24 hours a day for electrical outages and emergencies.

You can also report an outage by texting OUT to 444111, through the NIPSCO mobile app or through NIPSCO's outage center.

If you see a downed power line, stay away from it. NIPSCO instructs residents to call 911 first and then 1-800-464-7726. 

Residents needing additional assistance should also check with their local township trustee, which NIPSCO identifies as a potential source of individual financial assistance.

And because resources such as food distribution, charging locations, cooling centers and other emergency assistance can change as neighborhoods recover, residents should check current local emergency information rather than relying on an old social-media post.

⚡ THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW

265,000 customers restored.

97,000 still without power.

362,000 total outages recorded during the continuing storm events.

And thousands of workers, outside crews and emergency personnel are trying to get Northwest Indiana back online.

So yes, people are frustrated. Days without electricity will make anybody mad.

But shooting at a vehicle carrying the people working on the problem?

BABY... WE NEED THE ELECTRICIANS. NOT TARGET PRACTICE. 🤦🏾‍♀️

For official outage and restoration updates: NIPSCO Storm Restoration Updates

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