Indiana real estate broker on unprecedented storms: 'You really can’t prepare’
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IN SHORT
A Gary, Indiana real estate broker, Mark Keene, reflects on the unprecedented storms that caused widespread destruction, power outages, and displacement. Despite the challenges, he notes that real estate activity has continued, albeit with delays, and emphasizes the difficulty of preparing for such severe, infrequent weather events.
Key Numbers
7people killed in storms
1,000residents displaced by floods
5days Keene was without power
$5 billionestimated storm losses
Who's Involved
Mark Keene
Realtor and managing broker in Gary, Indiana
NIPSCO
Utility company facing a class-action lawsuit
Mike Braun
Indiana Governor requesting disaster declaration
↳ Why This Matters
The unprecedented storms highlight the vulnerability of communities and infrastructure to extreme weather events, raising questions about preparedness and the resilience of essential services like power grids. The impact on the real estate market and the legal challenges against utility companies underscore the broader economic and social consequences of climate-related disasters.
Key facts
Severe storms in northwest Indiana starting August 11 caused record rainfall, flooding, and widespread destruction.
At least seven people died and about 1,000 residents were displaced by the storms.
Real estate broker Mark Keene experienced significant delays in business operations due to power outages and storm damage.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against utility NIPSCO for alleged inadequate vegetation management.
Indiana's governor has requested a major disaster declaration, with estimated losses potentially exceeding $5 billion.
Severe storms that began on August 11 have caused significant devastation across northwest Indiana, leading to record rainfall, flooding, and widespread destruction. At least seven people have died, and approximately 1,000 residents have been displaced as floodwaters inundated communities.
Despite the disruption, real estate professionals like Gary-based Realtor Mark Keene are working to maintain business operations. Keene described the damage as unprecedented, with fallen trees and prolonged power outages impacting property showings and management. Some properties experienced flooding due to power loss and a high water table, with issues expected to ease once electricity is restored.
The disaster has prompted scrutiny of utility company NIPSCO, with a class-action lawsuit alleging inadequate vegetation management near power lines contributed to the outages. NIPSCO disputes these allegations, stating they have doubled spending on vegetation management since 2016.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA for 54 counties, estimating storm losses could exceed $5 billion. Keene, who was without power for five days, viewed the experience as an inconvenience but emphasized the difficulty of preparing for such extreme, infrequent weather events, likening them to once-in-a-century occurrences.
Frequently asked questions
The damage was caused by severe storms that brought record rainfall and flooding to northwest Indiana starting on August 11.
Prolonged power outages and storm damage delayed property showings and affected property management, but business largely continued with patience.
A class-action lawsuit alleges NIPSCO failed to adequately trim vegetation near power lines, contributing to outages caused by fallen trees.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun estimates that losses from the storms could exceed $5 billion.
What Happens Next
01Restoration efforts for power outages are ongoing.
02Contractors are scheduled to assess and clean up damaged properties.
03Legal proceedings related to the class-action lawsuit against NIPSCO are expected to continue.
04Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) review of Indiana's disaster declaration request is pending.
How It Developed
Severe storms began on August 11, causing record rainfall, flooding, and widespread destruction in northwest Indiana.
At least seven people were killed and approximately 1,000 residents were displaced by the storms.
Real estate broker Mark Keene experienced prolonged power outages, delaying showings and business operations.
Some managed properties experienced issues due to storm damage and power loss, displacing clients.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against utility company NIPSCO, alleging inadequate vegetation management.
NIPSCO disputes the lawsuit's claims, stating increased spending on vegetation management.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun requested a major disaster declaration, estimating losses could exceed $5 billion.
Keene described the storms as unprecedented and difficult to prepare for, comparing their severity to once-in-a-century events.
