Many communities were affected by tornadoes that struck Western Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 1. Fortunately, the Town of Belchertown was spared from the devastation. However, among the many communities hit hardest by the tornado was the nearby town of Monson, which is located 17 miles east of Springfield.
As is made apparent from the path of torn down trees to the west and to the east of the north side of the town’s center, the tornado came over the hill to the west knocking down trees around homes on Ely Road and High Street. Located on High Street, the steeple of the First Church of Monson came crashing down leaving a pile of debris in front of the church that has been standing since 1873.
Geralynn Laferriere was in her home on Ely Road on the west side of town when the tornado struck. “I just heard it picking up faster and faster and just hearing tree limbs going across my windows, then I heard windows crashing,” said Laferriere. A home which had been surrounded by trees is now open space. Fortunately, the only tree that struck her home hit her porch.
Video of Geralynn Laferriere interview
Laferriere’s neighbor wasn’t so lucky. Trucks were still removing trees that fell around his house and on top of it when Belchertown-News.com spoke to him. “It was like a freight train coming,” he said. He was on his porch when he saw the debris cloud coming over the hill—taking down trees as it did—and ran down to the basement.
“The house shook so much, the water came out of the toilet and splashed on the wall. There was no water left in the toilet,” he said.
Margaret Parker’s home on High Street had a large tree leaning up against it when we spoke to her about her experience. Her home is located across the street from the First Church of Monson. “We had heard the warning, so we had gone down (to the basement)…we heard the wind…the house shook at one point, but that must have been when the tree fell on it,” said Parker.
Main Street further south was blocked off to cars and pedestrians as utility crews worked to restore power resulting from damaged power lines.
Many homes were also destroyed on Stewart Street, located on the eastern side of the town’s center. Laura Yarbrough, her 12-year-old son, and her dog were in their basement as the tornado tore their home apart. When Belchertown-News.com spoke to Yarbrough, she was looking through what was left of her home. “I could hear everything whooping around,” she said. Yarbrough put her son under the stairwell in the basement when her water main broke and her furnace flipped over. After it was all over, Yarbrough saw light and got her son out. It wasn’t until the next day that search and rescue retrieved her dog who was also fine.
While Yarbrough’s basement is completely covered by a pile of debris that was once her home, the home next door was flipped upside down completely revealing what was once its foundation.
Video of the interview with Yarbrough & Phipps
Up the road from Yarbrough, three teenage girls were home alone on Stewart Street when the tornado struck their home destroying it. Montana Phipps, the youngest of the three sisters at 14, said she received a text from a friend letting her know about the tornado. “I was in my room just relaxing, so I looked down and I saw a tornado…it was like a train coming over the house,” she said. She also said that she peaked as the house was being lifted up off its foundation.
Behind the Phipps’ home the path of torn down trees indicates the path of the tornado as it continued over the hill. Further east, workers were clearing Country Road and East Hill Road. On East Hill Road several roofs were torn off of homes with more destruction caused by fallen trees.
Governor Deval Patrick, United States Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, State Senator Stephen Brewer, State Representatives Brian Ashe and Todd Smola also visited Monson to survey the damage.
“We will overcome this,” said Senator Brewer who encouraged that those who were not affected by the tornado to help their neighbors.
“It’s amazing how quick all the agencies came together to support each other…it is absolutely amazing,” said Representative Ashe. The day after the tornado, there were fire trucks from area communities including Coventry, Connecticut and Ashburnham, MA.
Governor Patrick said that the first priority was search and rescue. He also explained that FEMA teams are out assessing the cost of the damage. Patrick has declared a state of emergency for Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester County.
Those who want to help are encouraged to contact the Red Cross. You can also text “Red Cross” to 90999 to make a donation that will show up on your bill.
Belchertown United Church of Christ is organizing to help in Monson on Saturday as well. Slide Show of Monson Devastation
del.icio.us
Reddit
Google
Newsvine
Spurl.net
Digg
Yahoo!
Stumble
Facebook
Slashdot
Related Articles
On the Web
