Storm recovery continues in Lake Station and Gary, Indiana more than 2 weeks after severe weather
LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- Residents in Lake Station and surrounding communities are turning their attention to cleanup efforts following the Aug. 11 storm, with debris piles continuing to grow.
"With power now, people can make those first steps toward recovery, getting access to their driveways, to their homes," said Eric Burkes, the executive director of Minuteman Disaster Response.
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Burkes' team arrived in Lake Station to remove a damaged tree from Raquel Coriano's front yard.
"I just was hoping. I said, 'Oh God, please don't let it fall over to the house,'" Coriano said
Coriano is one of many homeowners who have insurance but is not covered because the tree did not touch her home. Removal companies quoted $1,500 for work that Minuteman performed for free.
"I feel a lot better, definitely. Definitely less stressful. I mean, it's been a rough three weeks. I just got my power back Sunday," Coriano said.
In hard-hit Gary, life is slowly returning to normal. Shoppers packed Save More Foods to restock their refrigerators.
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"We have to turn them away because there is not very much on the shelves," said Robert Baldwin of Save More Foods.
Baldwin said the store lost many of its refrigerated goods during the power outage. The meat and dairy departments were hit hardest.
"By tomorrow, we should have everything pretty much together because without power, we can't store anything," Baldwin said.
Assistance is available for some residents. Indiana is offering some residents up to $5,000 in emergency grants.
On Tuesday, the federal government declared the storm zone a "major disaster," a move that frees up resources and funds.
"The community itself came together. It came together, and it was just so awesome. I've never seen such an outpouring of love here in the city of Gary," said Gary resident Vicky Fowler.
NIPSCO also announced a $2 million contribution toward recovery efforts. The utility said power restoration is now nearly complete.
