The Salvation Army is responding to the tornadoes that swept through Lake and Porter counties by distributing food, blankets and other supplies, according to a release.
The agency’s Emergency Disaster Services team has been distributing water, snacks, hygiene kits, cleaning supplies and blankets to residents in Lake and Porter counties since Thursday and will continue to provide immediate assistance through this week.
In the immediate aftermath of the storms, EDS team members travelled through Lake and Porter County neighborhoods distributing food, drinks, and more than 100 cleanup kits to residents.
The Salvation Army has deployed a mobile feeding kitchen to Merrillville just blocks from the hardest-hit areas of the city, at the corner of 61st and Cleveland.
Downed trees and power lines have made some neighborhoods too dangerous to enter, but the canteen offers a central location for residents, volunteers, first responders and utility workers to get a snack or sack lunch. EDS team members trained in Emotional and Spiritual Care are also on site to care for those most affected by the storm.
Anyone who wants to assist with storm relief efforts can call the Salvation Amy at 219-838-0380 to find out how they can donate or help in other ways.
Those wishing to support disaster relief efforts are asked to monitor official Salvation Army communications for future needs. Monetary donations to help with this disaster response can be made at salarmy.us/Indiana-Storms.
As of Tuesday afternoon, NIPSCO reported that just over 5,000 customers were still without power. That’s down from a peak of 86,640 immediately after the storms.
Power was expected to be restored in Hobart and Lake Station by 6 p.m. Tuesday, and to be restored in Gary and Merrillville by 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Anyone experiencing a power outage within NIPSCO’s utility can text “out” to 444111; visit nipsco.com/outages; or use the NIPSCO mobile app.
Additionally, Lake and Porter County residents are being asked to visit the Indiana 211 website or call 866-211-9966 to report damage from the June 11 storms.
Collecting assessments via this process will help the Indiana Department of Homeland Security determine damage estimates and develop the next course of action in the disaster recovery process.
