IN YOUR BACKYARD: Extreme Weather is Only Getting WORSE

In the summer of 2025, a freakish storm ripped through Gary, Indiana, knocking out power for two weeks. Aja Bridges, a resident and mother of two, described the aftermath as "somewhat catastrophic." She told the podcast that her family scrambled to keep food from spoiling in a city that is already a food desert—no Walmart, no Target, just one local grocery store. Her daughter is autistic and relies on specific "safe foods," which became nearly impossible to maintain. Meanwhile, just 45 minutes down the road in Valparaiso, a predominantly white and wealthier community, power was restored within a day. "We were not prioritized," Bridges said. The storm revealed not just the raw force of extreme weather, but the disparities in who gets help first—and who gets left behind.

The Human Cost of Extreme Weather

The episode opens with two personal stories that ground the statistics in lived experience. In Gary, Bridges described how the power outages didn't stop after the initial two weeks; they kept flickering back on and off, forcing her to throw away groceries repeatedly. Her home sustained roof damage from wind and water, ruining her carpet, mattress, and furniture. She had to wait for FEMA inspectors to assess each home one by one before receiving any aid, and the amount was "at their discretion." The community's infrastructure, already fragile, could not absorb the shock.