Nearly 400,000 still without power after severe storms across Illinois, Indiana on Wednesday

Nearly 400,000 customers were still without power on Wednesday afternoon, after destructive storms hit across Illinois and Indiana on Tuesday, followed by another round of severe thunderstorms on Wednesday morning.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, ComEd was reporting approximately 114,000 outages across northern Illinois, and NIPSCO was reporting more than 268,000 outages in northwest Indiana.

At its peak, ComEd reported that more than 370,000 customers were experiencing outages, with the hardest-hit areas in the southwest suburbs, where at least three tornadoes had touched down.

It could take another three days for power to be fully restored. ComEd expects 80% of people will have power back by noon on Wednesday. Customers can check the outage map for real-time updates.

NIPSCO reported that areas hit the hardest in Indiana included Crown Point, Hammond, Gary, Highland, Griffith, Merrillville, Dyer, and East Chicago. In an update on Wednesday, the company said restoration times are not available as the damage assessment from the storms continues.

A line of destructive thunderstorms with winds over 90 mph barreled through communities, leaving them destroyed. 

Indiana State Police Sergeant Glen Fifield posted on social media, warning drivers to fill up gas tanks outside Lake and Porter counties for the next few days. He said open gas stations may run out of fuel due to power outages.   

Cars lined up bumper-to-bumper to get gas at a Speedway in Crown Point, Indiana, amid the ongoing power outages and gas shortages. 

Drivers told CBS News Chicago they are worried about running out of fuel as more storms move into the area. One driver said he waited at the gas station for 45 minutes. 

"I hope I get filled up," another driver told CBS News Chicago. 

The Lake County Fair in Crown Point has also been impacted by storm damage. Organizers just announced tonight and tomorrow's grandstand shows are canceled. Special Abilities Day has also been canceled. The public is asked to stay away from the fairgrounds for now.

Gas lines were also long in Dyer, Indiana, where one line stretched more than half a mile at Casey's General Store, with people looking to fill not only their cars but their generators amid the power outages. 

Forty-year resident Joseph Korba told CBS Chicago that he has not been able to sleep since the outage, as he depends on a CPAP machine.

"I need a CPAP machine and I can't breathe – my throat closes up so this is bad for me," he said.

Another person said he waited nearly two hours to get gas. Staff at the station remained positive during this difficult time.

"It's crazy, people want to fight, hurt us, everything, yell; but we just got to put our big boy pants on, put a smile on our face and everyone will get in and out as smooth and safely," one worker said.

In Highland, Indiana, where nearly 10,000 are without power, trees tore into the roofs of homes and limbs littered the streets. 

In Portage, Indiana, one person was killed in a house explosion in Portage, Indiana, during a severe weather outbreak on Tuesday afternoon. The area was hit hard with storm damage during Tuesday's storms. Neighbors say they were out here helping with the downed trees and debris when they heard and felt the explosion.  

Portage and Crown Point schools canceled classes on Wednesday due to power outages and families dealing with storm damage.