Tornado in Springfield, MA

[beaucoup]

Round 1 & round 2 came thru my town. Crazy night. Tree in backyard struck by lightning setting off building alarms. Fire dept came from neighboring towns because our town was too busy.

While outside due to alarms, we found building debris that had floated in from another town probably.

Then I finally got back into the house, I found a live mouse in my kitchen.

3 hours of this. I'm exhausted.

And now more storms lining up the same path.
I think our town is one with school cancelled tomorrow by the Governors state of emergency.

 

[beaucoup]

NECN has tons of coverage on tv. Haven't checked their website yet.

Locals channels (some) have switched to their national sitcoms.

Sky starting to rumble here again. Watching weather radar online.

Those last 2 tornadoes early today had a perfect defined hook.

 

[beaucoup]

Springfield & Monson look really bad.

 

[3boymthr]

It's been very scary. We were downstairs for over an hour. We had a TV down there and kept up with the news. There were reports of one person having passed away. According to the governor's news conference they died in their car. I also saw news reports that two children were missing but they were in their home when last seen. The home had collapsed - the parents were removed from the home alive but injured. I hope they find the kids.

DH is from West TX so was taking it all in stride and his attitude kind of carried over to the rest of us I did laundry and cleaned while the oldest watched TV and youngest played his DS and kept asking if we could go back upstairs yet but my middle DS was fairly bothered by it all. I got him started on his homework but he first geared up with his WWII army helmet and elbow and knee pads.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hmm. You went to the basement? We are also under a tornado warning and it never occurred to me to do that. Should we? Almost the entire state is under the tornado warning.

The sirens hear went off at about 5:30. I didn't even realize what it was until dh told me. I've never heard those sirens before. I don't know much about tornados since we don't get them here. The warning is in affect until 8pm. Unless we hear about something closer than Springfield I guess we'll stay up stairs.

Yes, a basement is the best place to go, anything below ground level. And if you are in basement, try to get under something sturdy and strong, like work table, stairs, etc. If a bathroom or closet is available, go there, in the lowest level of the house. If basement is not available, the other items mentioned....bathroom, closet, sturdy items (stairs, etc) still apply.

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

My DH works at the Amtrak station in Springfield. Thanking God that he was not on tonight. They called the night guy in early already and they just called now to ask if he would go up and work till midnight. It wasn't a direct order in so he turned them down.

My DN23 was at Springfield College when it happened. Said she was running down the staircase at the time. An OP had a link to photos. Damage to Springfield College looks severe. I texted her thinking she was further north at work but she was at the college but okay. Thank goodness!

Our CT NBC station is reporting 1 fatality now- tree landing on a SUV (I think) and splitting it in half. Not much more info was given.

I prepped the DC today after school-- If I say move - you will move and not ? me. We head to the basement if needed. Luckly we didn't need to today but the last few years we have had more watches than in the past. Just trying to teach them that they need to follow directions and DON"T stop to pick up a toy or anything.

We are very lucky here in CT. Everything was around us in neighboring states. My heart goes out to all those affected by the recent and past tornados.

 

[phorsenuf]

When we lived in NC we had a little closet area under the basement stairs. I kept blankets, water, a flashlight and other essentials in it so we always had a prepared are to go to if need be. Thankfully we only had to get in their once.

Stay safe everyone! I'm in Florida but 3 of my boys are in NH.

 

[beaucoup]

4 confirmed deaths.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

4 confirmed deaths.

2 in Westfield, 1 in Brimfield and 1 in West Springfield

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

my DN just got the okay to leave Springfield College. Praying she has a save drive home.

 

[redlight]

I'm north of Springfield - missed the tornadoes but they were too close for comfort.

 

[3boymthr]

We've got thunderstorms and wind rolling thru right now but feeling better because according to the news there aren't any active Tornado warnings though there are some watches.

 

[Kteacher]

I live just north of Springfield. The South End is a mess right now. We were in our basement because the news stations were reorting a second batch of tornados heading right for my town around 8:00, but luckily it passed by us. Brimfield, Ware, Westfield, and Springfield were not so lucky .
There is a video up on Channel 3 out of Springfield that shows the tornado literally sucking up the water in the Connecticut River.

 

[Nancyg56]

I live just north of Springfield. The South End is a mess right now. We were in our basement because the news stations were reorting a second batch of tornados heading right for my town around 8:00, but luckily it passed by us. Brimfield, Ware, Westfield, and Springfield were not so lucky .
There is a video up on Channel 3 out of Springfield that shows the tornado literally sucking up the water in the Connecticut River.

I saw that! It was something!

 

[TLSnell1981]

4 confirmed deaths.

Oh NO! That is horrible!

 

[beaucoup]

Videos already showing up on Youtube. NECN showed a few of them.
Search: Springfield MA tornado 6/1/11

Other sites with photos:
www.necn.com
http://www.wwlp.com/
http://www.wggb.com/
www.thebostonchannel.com
http://boston.cbslocal.com/

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

My DN finally made it home. She said they spent 5 hours in the basement of Springfield College. Damage is unreal. Just glad she is okay

 

[minniebride]

In Easthampton too...Tstorms rolling though right now. Trying not to freak.

Hello neighbor! We were lucky that all we got was thunderstorms. My DF & I finally got stir crazy and went to Amy's Place for a quick bite. We overheard another couple saying there were some trees down and a house with some damage over on Loudville Rd, but otherwise we were pretty OK.

No school tomorrow in Springfield, West Springfield, & one school in Westfield is closed till Monday Between the zillion snow days and this, I'm afraid those poor kids will be going to school till July! I work with alot of people from Springfield.....hope they are all OK & I hope my DF's commute to Springfield for work tomorrow is bearable!!

Prayers to the families who lost their four loved ones today

 

[Kteacher]

Most of the schools around here were already going until the 23rd of June because of snow cancellations this year. Palmer schools are closed today as well as West Springfield, Springfield and some in Westfield. I feel extremely lucky that my town was spared because one local news station showed us in the path to get hit around 8 pm.

 

[JESW]

What a difference a few hours make as it is blue skies and sunshine this morning. We were very fortunate as we were on the fringe of all the storms and only got thunder, lots of lightning and some wind and rain but nothing like others got. So sad to see the pictures coming out of the Western part of the state.

Jill...who is very thankful this morning...