August 31, 2026
For Immediate Release
Contact: [email protected]
GARY, IN — As communities across northwest Indiana continue recovering from widespread power outages, residents in the Gary Metro Division, including Gary and surrounding communities in Lake and Porter Counties, have faced more than two weeks of disruptions following severe storms. The prolonged outages are raising particular concern for Black residents and historically underserved communities that continue to experience the impacts even as power is restored elsewhere. The situation underscores urgent questions of climate justice, equity, and who receives timely support following a disaster.
United Women in Faith released the following statement, which may be attributed to General Secretary and CEO Sally Vonner:
“The thousands of people impacted by prolonged power outages in northwest Indiana show us exactly why climate justice matters. We know that increasingly severe weather can have devastating consequences, and that the burden of disasters and recovery is not always borne equally. When Black and historically underserved communities face prolonged disruptions, we must ask who is being left behind.
“As women of faith, we pray for the children, women, families and all those impacted by this extended outage. We call on local officials, utility providers, and organizations responsible for recovery efforts to ensure that every affected community receives the resources and attention needed to restore power and fully recover.
“We also call on national leaders to invest in disaster preparedness, resilient infrastructure, and environmental protections that can help communities withstand increasingly severe weather and reduce future harm. United Women in Faith remains steadfast in our work for climate justice and in advocating for a future where no community is disproportionately burdened by environmental harm or left powerless in the wake of disaster.”
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This content was originally published by United Women in Faith; republished with permission by ResourceUMC on September 1, 2026.