SCHERERVILLE, Indiana — A line of powerful storms on Tuesday knocked out electricity across the entire town of Schererville and caused major disruption on regional highways, authorities said. High winds blew down power lines, overturned at least two heavy trucks and forced road closures as emergency services dealt with widespread damage.
Townwide outage and safety warning
Shortly before mid-afternoon police posted that the whole town had lost power and asked residents to remain indoors where possible while crews worked to assess and repair the damage. They also stressed that emergency telephone lines remained available for life‑threatening incidents only.
"As of now, the entire town is out of power. We urge everyone to stay put and stay off the roadways, if at all possible. We will try our best to keep everyone updated whenever power is restored. 911 lines are working properly, and are for emergency calls only," police said.
Highways blocked after semis overturn
Sergt Glen Fifield of the Indiana State Police Lowell Post said high winds were responsible for several serious incidents on busy routes. Two articulated trucks overturned, one on the northbound side of the I‑65 near Lowell and another on the southbound side close to U.S. 30, just north of the same highway. The crashes contributed to significant traffic disruption.
Fifield added that downed lines north of I‑94 had led to the closure of both directions of I‑65 north of that junction and additional restrictions south of U.S. 20 while crews worked to make the corridors safe.
Extent of outages and local damage
Utility data shared by the companies showed outages affecting hundreds of thousands of customers regionally. At about 14:00 local time more than 283,000 NIPSCO customers and more than 270,000 ComEd customers were without power as crews mobilised to the hardest‑hit areas.
| Utility | Customers without power (approx.) |
|---|---|
| NIPSCO | 283,000+ |
| ComEd | 270,000+ |
Local municipal officials reported major damage in parts of the south Chicago suburbs as well. Tinley Park village manager Pat Carr said winds ripped roofs from buildings and blew out windows, leaving "several thousand" customers without power in that area.
Residents capture storm on video
Homeowners in the south suburban belt posted dramatic video of the weather as it passed. Frankfort resident Jean Miller shared footage appearing to show debris spun up by an apparent tornado, while Orland Park resident James Hill recorded heavy rain and strong winds sweeping through his neighbourhood.
- Authorities urged people to avoid travel unless necessary and to keep 911 lines clear for emergencies.
- Motorists should expect delays on I‑65 and nearby arterials where lanes remain closed for safety and recovery work.
- Residents without power were advised to check with their utility provider for restoration updates and safety information about downed lines.
What to do if you are affected
Officials urged those in affected areas to stay indoors where possible and avoid downed power lines, which may still be live. Motorists approaching the I‑65 closures should follow detour signage and the directions of law enforcement. Residents should report emergencies via 911 and non‑emergency concerns to local municipal hotlines or their electricity supplier.
As utility crews and emergency services continue to assess damage and begin repairs, widespread power restoration may take time given the scale of the outages and the need for safe access to sites with fallen wires and debris.
Authorities and utility companies said they would provide updates as conditions change and more information becomes available on the number of customers restored and the cause of the severe wind damage.
