# Gary mom still worried after month without power

> A month after a historic power outage, Melissa Dixon in Gary, Indiana, faces mold risks and FEMA delays.
- Title: Gary mom still worried after month without power | Shortify
- Summary: A month after a historic power outage, Melissa Dixon in Gary, Indiana, faces mold risks and FEMA delays. FEMA relief applications remain pending for Gary…
- Keywords: melissa dixon, gary, nipsco, fema, indiana, power outage, mold, disaster relief, lake county, tree of life church, news, local
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/weather/powerless/2026/09/18/power-outage-nipsco-gary-indiana-melissa-dixon-fema
- Published: 2026-09-23T21:14:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: melissa dixon, gary, nipsco, fema, indiana, power outage, mold, disaster relief, lake county, tree of life church, news, local
## Power outage aftermath
Melissa Dixon’s refrigerator works now, but she worries about basement mold after two weeks without power.

> I don't want to put food in here or buy food for a couple days, because I don't want to lose my food again.
## NIPSCO outage impact
375,000 NIPSCO customers in Gary lost power for days after an August 11 derecho storm.
## FEMA relief delays
Dixon's FEMA relief application is pending despite 33,000 Lake County residents applying for aid.
## Mold health risks
Dixon reports facial pain and vision issues from mold in her basement after power returned.

> I started feeling really weird, like my vision ... a lot of pain in my face and my neck area.
## Financial strain
Shanequa Cauley lost three weeks of pay after NIPSCO delayed her employer's power restoration.
## Community support
Tree of Life Church provides food and shelter for Gary residents without power.

> Even though lights came on, people's bank accounts didn't bounce back.
## Red Cross efforts
28 people remain in temporary shelter while Red Cross connects residents with resources.
## NIPSCO bill
Dixon received a $374 NIPSCO bill despite two weeks without power.
## Relief applications
Gary residents applied for FEMA relief but only received $500,000 in aid for 1,200 households.
## Mold concerns
Dixon uses dehumidifiers in her basement but fears mold could cause health issues.
## Food insecurity
Dixon stocks food for a day or two after her refrigerator returned.

> I don't want to put food in here or buy food for a couple days.
## Community resilience
Gary residents say they 'refuse to be knocked out' despite ongoing challenges.

> We are strong. We are some that don't give in or give up easily.
## State aid
Lake County received $48.19 million in FEMA funds but few approvals.
## Financial aid
Gary distributed $500,000 to 1,200 households but it's a small fraction of needs.
## Health impacts
Dixon reports facial nerve problems from mold exposure after power returned.

> I started feeling really weird, like my vision ... a lot of pain in my face and my neck area.
## Relief timeline
FEMA accepts applications until October 25 for Gary residents.
## Key takeaway

FEMA relief applications remain pending for Gary residents despite NIPSCO's outage affecting 375,000 customers.