08/22/2026
I took a class some years ago sponsored by the City of Warrenville. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training; emergency planning, supply kits and basic response. Given the predicted frequency of storms I highly recommend reading information provided at https://www.ready.gov/plan. Look for great deals, even garage sales to find an affordable duffle bag, extra power bank or charging cord for emergency supplies. If you have the ability to find solar charging devices, while more expensive, are less likely to drain of power while not being used or go bad over time. I need to check my "Go" bag as I am sure some of the food has expired, or been raided for snacks when I was lazy. I should also include a power bank and an extra charging cord.
Now that the storm has moved on and Northwest Indiana is slowly putting itself back together, we figured this was a good time for a little public-service announcement—with just enough sarcasm to keep everyone awake.
For anyone shocked that severe weather showed up here, we would like to gently remind you that this is, in fact, Northwest Indiana. Storms happen. And now some of them even come with names, which seems fitting because they behave a lot like your ex: they arrive with drama, wreck a bunch of stuff, disappear, and leave everyone else to clean up the mess.
As for the utility companies, yes, the wait for services to be restored feels painfully long. Nobody enjoys sitting in a powerless house watching their refrigerator slowly transform into a large, overpriced cooler.
That said, the people restoring those services are men and women just like the rest of us. Many have been putting in countless hours away from their families, repairing damaged infrastructure and working through an enormous backlog while the rest of us discover just how quickly losing modern conveniences turns us into frontier settlers.
Suddenly Facebook is full of people acting like they churned butter at sunrise, crossed three counties by covered wagon, and nearly perished because the Wi-Fi stopped working.
And yes, we know. The outage stinks.
But a lot of people are without services right now. Damage this widespread is not something we commonly experience here, and poles, transformers, lines, trees, and other equipment cannot simply be repaired or replaced overnight. Much like the mess your ex left behind, some things take a little time to sort out.
Coastal communities deal with extended outages and major disruptions after severe storms and hurricanes on a regular basis. It is frustrating and inconvenient, but people make it through.
We will too.
So while crews from utility companies, public works departments, emergency services, dispatch centers, tree services, road departments, and other agencies continue working to restore normalcy, give them some patience and grace. They are working hard, making sacrifices, and trying to get everyone back online as quickly as possible.
There is also something useful we can take away from all of this: being prepared matters.
If your current emergency plan is a flashlight with batteries that died sometime during the previous presidential administration, a few mystery candles from the junk drawer, and the firm belief that “nothing ever happens here,” this storm may be your sign to upgrade.
Keep flashlights, batteries, water, food, medications, phone chargers or power banks, a weather radio, and an emergency plan ready before the next storm shows up looking for attention.
Visit Ready.gov for guidance on putting together an emergency preparedness kit and making a plan for situations exactly like the one we have just experienced.
The Lowell Fire Department’s job is to keep you safe and respond when emergencies happen. During major events like this, though, recovery takes more than emergency responders. It takes patience, preparation, common sense, and a little understanding from everyone.
Check on your neighbors. Thank the crews when you see them. Be prepared. Give people some grace.
And remember: eventually the power comes back, the storm passes, and—if history has taught us anything—so does your ex.
Stay safe, Northwest Indiana. 🚒⛈️⚡
