Springfield remembers upcoming 14th anniversary of EF-3 tornado

Yahoo

6 days ago

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – June 1 marks the 14th Anniversary of the devastating tornado that damaged several communities across Western Massachusetts.
It's something many still remember very vividly. The 22News Storm Team warned thousands of people about the devastating EF-3 tornado that cut a path of destruction from Westfield to Charlton on June 1, 2011.
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'One of our guys behind the scenes moved our Springfield Skycam towards the Connecticut River, looking over towards West Springfield,' said Nick Bannin, former 22News Meteorologist. 'And then we saw live on camera a tornado, developing and dropping down into West Springfield, then crossing the Connecticut River.'
Trees, buildings and homes were torn down, power was out, and the streets were empty.One-third of Springfield was destroyed.
'I remember my mother and mother-in-law calling me, 'You should stay put,' and me sort of shooing them and saying, 'No, we'll be fine, there'll be no tornado,'' said Denise Hurst, Springfield School Committee Member. 'And then hours later, walking out of this doctor appointment, and just having this very eerie feeling, that I was like the only one that existed in the city.'
The tornado damaged several communities in western Massachusetts and killed three people. In Springfield, Mayor Domenic Sarno told 22News that 38 people were severely injured.
'You've got to let people know three things: what happened, one, two, what you're going to do about it, and three, just as important, hope,' said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
In the hours following the tornado, Mayor Sarno was on the ground with local, state, and federal officials conducting searches and rescues for almost 18 hours a day. Now that the city has recovered, Mayor Sarno keeps the boots he wore on those days in his office as a remembrance.
Mayor Sarno encourages everyone to take a moment of silence on Sunday, June 1, at 4:38 p.m. He is also asking local houses of worship to ring their bells at that time to signify the time the tornado touched down in Springfield.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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