08/14/2026
On Tuesday, Northwest Indiana was hit by derecho winds reaching 100 mph, along with multiple tornadoes that tore through Lake and Porter Counties. The hardest-hit area was the city of Portage, but extensive damage stretched across Hammond, Merrillville, South Holland, Hobart, Gary, Crown Point, Griffith, Munster, La Porte, and surrounding communities.
The tornado count has since been upgraded to five.
More than 260,000 NIPSCO customers are without power. In one city alone, trees have fallen across more than 100 homes, with hundreds of additional reports still pending. Roads throughout the area remain impassable due to fallen trees and debris.
Pastor Jimmy Harbin of The Crossing Church in Hobart, which sustained more than $100,000 in damage, has been serving the community by providing food and other assistance. Yesterday, the church provided enough food to serve more than 450 vehicles.
Pastor Michael Harwell of Central Church of God in Portage has opened the church parking lot to neighbors who need a place to park and walk to their homes due to trees blocking streets and driveways. Pastor Harwell and his family have also provided food, water, and hygiene items to more than 100 people.
Because Pastor Harwellās family is without electricity, they have had to stay in a hotel in Lafayette, approximately an hour and a half away, so they can have a place to stay and access gasoline and other necessities.
Pastor Dale Combs of Jubilee Worship Center in Hobart reports that the church did not sustain damage but is currently without electricity. Pastor Combs has offered the church as a central hub for relief efforts, where supplies can be staged and distributed as needed.
Operation Compassion, Men & Women of Action ā Indiana, the Indiana Church of God, and the Church of God are coming together to partner with these local churches and provide aid where it is needed most.
Praise God for the family of God!
We Are the Church of God!
