Tens of thousands in Northwest Indiana remained without power Tuesday after a fast-moving derecho ripped through the region downing trees, damaging roofs and ripping Crown Point’s Sparta Dome causing it to deflate.
Wendy Lussier, director of communications for the Northern Indiana Public Service Co., said at its peak more than 95,300 NIPSCO customers were without power. More than 40,000 of those customers were restored overnight. More than 31,000 customers remained without power at 3 p.m. Tuesday across northern Indiana.
Lussier said more than 3,000 individual repairs will be needed to get everybody back online. Crews worked throughout the night to assess and repair the damages.
“Nearly 2,000 individual repairs remain to be completed, and NIPSCO anticipates the potential for a multi-day outage for some customers,” Lussier said.
“All available crews are working 24/7 to restore service and additional resources are being secured to provide further assistance,” she said.
The power outage and failure of a backup generator also caused the Sparta Dome in Crown Point to deflate. Dr. Tae’Ni Chang, who owns the facility with his wife, Jacqueline, said the couple always knew deflation was a possibility, but they did not expect what they saw.
“It was bad,” Chang said. When the power went out and a back-up generator failed to work, the dome began to deflate.
The dome is an air-supported structure made out of several layers of fabric. A slightly higher air pressure inside the dome supports the structure. The outer layer or membrane is manufactured using architectural grad vinyl coated polyester fabric, according to a description on the The Farley Group’s website. The Farley Groups is the manufacturer.
Chang said there are two holes in the fabric from the storm. He is uncertain at this time if the holes can be repaired or of the entire fabric dome will need to be replaced. Chang said it is unclear right now how long it will take to get someone from the company to look at it or make the repairs due to restrictions imposed at the U.S.-Canadian border due to pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
“It’s going to be a COVID challenge,” Chang said.
He said they are fortunate the damage happened now during the Sparta Dome’s slow season. The facility is busiest in late fall through the winter. He said the couple is appreciative of the city’s efforts and of the calls from people offering support and help
“Hopefully we will try our best and get it up as quickly as he can,” Chang said.
A power outage also is forcing the closure of the Lake County Courthouse at 232 Russell St., in Hammond. All other county buildings will be open for business today, Commission President Michael Repay said.
Across the region downed tree limbs littered streets and damaged buildings. In Crown Point some buildings in its commercial area were damaged.
Mark Carroll, owner of Crown Point Printing, was watching the storm from his business in the 1000 block of Breuckman in Crown Point.
“I was waiting for our roof to come off when I looked over and saw (my neighbor’s) peel back like a tuna can,” Carroll said, adding he is hopeful his neighbor’s business is able to get back up and running quickly.
“It was surreal thinking our own roof is going to come off and then your neighbor’s does instead,” he said.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
