2011 New England tornado outbreak
Encyclopedia
The 2011 New England tornado outbreak occurred on June 1, 2011, in Massachusetts' Connecticut River Valley
and also in southern Maine, devastating sections of the large city of Springfield, Massachusetts
and its surrounding region. Although the vast majority of damage occurred in the Connecticut River Valley, the tornado outbreak
spawned 6 tornadoes across New England
, affecting both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Maine.
By 9:47 PM EDT, the violent storms—which included seven reported tornadoes—had killed three people, injured 300 hundred people in Springfield alone, and left over 500 people homeless in Springfield's MassMutual Center
arena. More than 48,000 electricity customers lost power. Because of the severe weather and resulting damage, Governor Deval Patrick
declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts, and on June 14, 2011, President Barack Obama
declared Springfield
and the surrounding region a United States Federal disaster area. Governor Patrick also activated 1,000 National Guard
troops for rescue and recovery efforts.
(SPC) noted the possibility of a severe weather event in the Northeastern United States in their outlook. A storm system was forecast to draw warm, moist air (with dew point
s over 60 °F (15.6 °C)) from the south, ahead of a driving cold front
. In light of this, the SPC issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms the area. As an upper-level trough
moved over the Great Lakes
, further moisture and warmth increased atmospheric instability
in the area, raising the threat of a squall line
or supercell thunderstorms. By June 1, the storm system moved over Ontario
and Quebec
, with a cold front trailing behind it over northern New England
. CAPE
values exceeded 4,000 J
/kg, indicating an extreme amount of instability in the atmosphere, conducive to strong thunderstorms. Additionally, a strong upper-level jet stream
brought significant wind shear
, which, in combination with the atmospheric instability, indicated a significant severe weather
threat, with the main effects expected to result from downburst
winds and large hail
, but with tornado
es possible.
Between 8:18 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (EDT), severe storms producing 1 in (2.5 cm) hail developed over portions of New Hampshire
, Massachusetts
and Maine
; however, little if any impact resulted from these storms. At 10:05 a.m., the SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch
for the entire state of Vermont
, much of northern New York
, northeastern Pennsylvania
and parts of western Massachusetts and Connecticut
. By this time, a broken line of severe storms had developed over parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania. With the storms gradually developing throughout the day and an increasing threat of tornadoes, a tornado watch
was issued at 1:00 p.m. for much of New England, southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey
. Around 2:00 p.m., severe storms with damaging hail, measured up to 2.75 in (7 cm), and winds around 60 mph (96.6 km/h) developed in eastern New York. These storms gradually tracked east-southeastward into Vermont and later New Hampshire. One particular supercell produced very large 3.25 inches (8.3 cm) diameter hail at Shaftsbury, VT after producing a funnel cloud and baseball sized hail across the border in New York State. At 2:43 p.m., the first of several tornado warning
s in the area was issued for southern Coos County, New Hampshire
.
Between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., severe storms developed over western Massachusetts and prompted a tornado warning to be issued at 3:28 p.m. for parts of Hampden
, Hampshire
and Franklin Counties
. About an hour later, another warning was issued for Springfield, Massachusetts
and surrounding areas. Within minutes, a touchdown was confirmed near Springfield by local law enforcement and amateur radio operators. This tornado was later rated a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
. Over the next hour, damage was reported as far east as Sturbridge
. At 6:07 p.m., another tornado was reported in Westfield, and again through Springfield and Sturbridge, with the last report at 7:25 p.m.
In addition to the above towns, Agawam
, Charlton
, Monson
, Brimfield
, Southbridge
, Oxford
, Wilbraham
,and West Springfield, Massachusetts
all reported possible tornado damage. A total of three people were killed as a result of the tornado and at least 200 people were injured from severe weather across the state. The outbreak included the first killer tornado in Massachusetts since the 1995 Great Barrington tornado
.
}
|Brief tornado touched down to the northwest of Bethel, snapping or uprooting numerous trees. Tree limbs were thrown up to 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) away.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|Embden
area
|Somerset
|44.9087°N 70.0273°W
|5:51 p.m. – 6:06 p.m.
|8.4 miles (13.5 km)
|Tornado touched down in a rural area of Somerset County. Damage was confined to trees along the entire path. Winds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph (144.8 to 160.9 km/h).
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Massachusetts
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|Westfield
area to SW Charlton
|Hampden
, Worcester
|42°06′N 72°45′W
|4:17 p.m. – 5:27 p.m.
|37 miles (59.5 km)
|4 deaths – See section on the Greater Springfield tornado
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW Wilbraham
|Hampden
|42°08′N 72°28′W
|6:32 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.
|3.6 miles (5.8 km)
|Numerous trees were downed and large limbs were snapped off some trees.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of North Brimfield
|Hampden
|42°08′N 72°13′W
|6:54 p.m. – 6:57 p.m.
|1.3 miles (2.1 km)
|Several trees were downed, some of which were uprooted, and large limbs were snapped off some trees. Post-event analysis indicated that the tornado was weaker than initially thought.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NE of Fiskdale
|Hampden
|42°09′N 72°04′W
|7:10 p.m. – 7:13 p.m.
|1 miles (1.6 km)
|Damage mostly limited to trees; however, one fell on and damaged a home.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/01/11, NWS Boston, Massachusetts: 1, 2, NWS Gray, Maine: 1, 2, 3
|-
|}
into Worcester County
in Western Massachusetts
. The tornado proved to be unusually persistent, remaining on the ground for one hour and ten minutes along a path 39 mi (62.8 km) long, the second longest on record in Massachusetts. The damage path reached a width of 0.5 mile (0.80467 km). The city of Springfield
was devastated by the June 1, 2011 tornado, as was the southern portion of the Springfield Metropolitan Area
- from Westfield
to Charlton
. Massachusetts has experienced only eight EF3
or higher tornadoes since reliable records began to be kept in 1950, and this was the first on record in Hampden County
. Overall, the tornado killed three people, injured about 200 others, and left hundreds homeless. In Springfield alone, approximately 500 buildings were destroyed. Hundreds of other homes were destroyed in surrounding towns, including West Springfield
(88 structures) and Monson
(77 structures), among others. Damage estimates from the storm, to date, exceed $140 million, the majority of which was from the destruction of homes and businesses. Based on a post-storm survey by the National Weather Service
office in Boston, the tornado attained maximum estimated winds of 160 mph (257.5 km/h) as it moved into Springfield
, ranking it as a high-end EF3.
Around 4:13 p.m., a strong thunderstorm developed over western Hampden County and gradually developed as it tracked eastward at 35 mph (56.3 km/h). This storm prompted a severe thunderstorm warning
for portions of Hampden, Hampshire
, and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts as well as Hartford
, Tolland
and Windham
Counties in Connecticut
. At the time, Doppler weather radar indicated weak rotation
within the storm, a sign of a possible tornado and around 4:17 p.m., a tornado touched down in the Munger Hill section of Westfield, Massachusetts
. The previous severe thunderstorm warning was then superseded by a tornado warning
at 4:18 p.m. following stronger rotation apparent on radar. Within Westfield, damage was mainly confined to trees but a local school did sustain roof damage. Once the tornado moved out of the City of Westfield and into the City of West Springfield
, it rapidly intensified, causing extensive damage to industrial buildings, removing roofs and the upper floors of three-story apartment complexes. Additionally, a few homes collapsed due to the severity of structural damage. Throughout West Springfield, 88 buildings were destroyed and two people were killed. One woman was killed after her home collapsed on top of her while she was protecting her daughter. Another fatality took place when a 5 ft (1.5 m) wide oak tree
fell on a vehicle, killing the driver.
The storm then crossed the Connecticut River
and moved into Metro Center
, the most urban area of the densely populated City of Springfield, destroying over 500 homes and buildings. The tornado caused extensive damage to Springfield's Connecticut River Walk Park
, deforesting much of the park's formerly lush tree canopy and removing large sections of its wrought-iron fences. 200 year-old Heritage Trees in Court Square
were uprooted and commercial brick buildings in Springfield's historic South End
sustained extensive damage - large portions of their roofs were removed and numerous, ornate brick facades were completely destroyed. Severe structural damage to apartments and townhouses took place near famous Mulberry Street
and due east on the campus of Springfield College. In the wealthy East Forest Park
neighborhood, numerous houses were completely destroyed, and Cathedral High School
sustained significant damage. Some debris from Cathedral High School was found roughly 43 mi (69.2 km) east, discovered in Millbury
. Springfield's Sixteen Acres neighborhood, an upper-middle class neighborhood - Springfield's most suburban in character - was similarly devastated.
Continuing eastward, the tornado tracked through Wilbraham
, causing near-total deforestation
and extensive structural damage. The storm then moved through the center of Monson
, damaging nearly every structure in the area. Many homes were badly damaged, some of which were completely flattened. A total of 77 buildings were destroyed, some completely, in the town. In some locations, trees were debarked and had most of their branches removed. The roof of the old Monson High School
, which is now the town's police building, was also completely destroyed.
In Natick
, roughly 60 mi (96.6 km) from Monson, a picture from the town was found.
Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the tornado moved through Brimfield State Forest
where it reached its maximum width of 0.5 mi (0.80467 km). Thousands of trees were snapped and uprooted in this area. Near Brimfield
, the Village Green campground, a trailer park, was almost completely destroyed with 95 out of 96 trailers destroyed. Here, one person was killed after her RV
was overturned by the tornado. Losses in this area exceeded $1 million. Around 5:09 p.m., another tornado warning was issued to include portions of Norfolk County, Massachusetts
and Providence County, Rhode Island
. Significant damage took place to both buildings and trees for several miles before the storm moved into Southbridge
. There, the Southbridge Airport sustained some damage and aircraft were picked up and thrown into the nearby woods. Once through the airport, the tornado weakened and eventually dissipated in southwestern Charlton
at 5:27 p.m.
. Over two weeks later, more than 200 people were still homeless at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. In addition to the MassMutual Center, Tantasqua High School
in Sturbridge and Brookfield Elementary School were opened up as emergency shelters. A Special Emergency Response Team was activated by the state police in order to search for missing people and those trapped underneath debris.
In Springfield, firefighters from Boston, Worcester, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, and Weston assisted in rescue efforts. Governor
Deval Patrick
also declared a state of emergency
in Massachusetts, and activated 1,000 National Guard
troops for rescue and recovery efforts. By June 2, six Red Cross shelters had been opened in the state and housed about 480 people. On June 2, 2011, the Business Improvement District of Hartford, Connecticut
- Springfield's bi-state twin city
- and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District were helping the Springfield Business Improvement District with clean-up. Within two days of the tornadoes, the process of demolishing 'structures beyond repair' began as local officials inspected hundreds of damaged homes. By June 7, three shelters remained open, housing 362 people.
On June 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) declared Hampden and Worcester Counties as major disaster areas, allowing for government aid to be distributed to affected residents. The following day, the number of insurance claims sharply rose from about 5,000 to 8,200. In addition to federal funds, state lawmakers passed a $50.3 million supplemental budget that included $15 million for emergency response, cleanup, and assistance and shelter to residents affected by the storms. By June 20, just over $1 million in individual aid had been provided to 254 households.
Pioneer Valley
The Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
and also in southern Maine, devastating sections of the large city of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and its surrounding region. Although the vast majority of damage occurred in the Connecticut River Valley, the tornado outbreak
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
spawned 6 tornadoes across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, affecting both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Maine.
By 9:47 PM EDT, the violent storms—which included seven reported tornadoes—had killed three people, injured 300 hundred people in Springfield alone, and left over 500 people homeless in Springfield's MassMutual Center
MassMutual Center
The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
arena. More than 48,000 electricity customers lost power. Because of the severe weather and resulting damage, Governor Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
declared a state of emergency for Massachusetts, and on June 14, 2011, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
declared Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and the surrounding region a United States Federal disaster area. Governor Patrick also activated 1,000 National Guard
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
troops for rescue and recovery efforts.
Meteorological synopsis
On May 30, two days before the outbreak, the Storm Prediction CenterStorm Prediction Center
The Storm Prediction Center , located in Norman, Oklahoma, is tasked with forecasting the risk of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in the contiguous United States. The agency issues convective outlooks, mesoscale discussions, and watches as a part of this process...
(SPC) noted the possibility of a severe weather event in the Northeastern United States in their outlook. A storm system was forecast to draw warm, moist air (with dew point
Dew point
The dew point is the temperature to which a given parcel of humid air must be cooled, at constant barometric pressure, for water vapor to condense into liquid water. The condensed water is called dew when it forms on a solid surface. The dew point is a saturation temperature.The dew point is...
s over 60 °F (15.6 °C)) from the south, ahead of a driving cold front
Cold front
A cold front is defined as the leading edge of a cooler mass of air, replacing a warmer mass of air.-Development of cold front:The cooler and denser air wedges under the less-dense warmer air, lifting it...
. In light of this, the SPC issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms the area. As an upper-level trough
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
moved over the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, further moisture and warmth increased atmospheric instability
Atmospheric instability
Atmospheric instability is a condition where the atmosphere is generally considered to be unstable and as a result the weather is subject to a high degree of variability through distance and time...
in the area, raising the threat of a squall line
Squall line
A squall line is a line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front. In the early 20th century, the term was used as a synonym for cold front. It contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight-line winds, and possibly tornadoes and waterspouts....
or supercell thunderstorms. By June 1, the storm system moved over Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, with a cold front trailing behind it over northern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. CAPE
Convective available potential energy
In meteorology, convective available potential energy , sometimes, simply, available potential energy , is the amount of energy a parcel of air would have if lifted a certain distance vertically through the atmosphere...
values exceeded 4,000 J
Joule
The joule ; symbol J) is a derived unit of energy or work in the International System of Units. It is equal to the energy expended in applying a force of one newton through a distance of one metre , or in passing an electric current of one ampere through a resistance of one ohm for one second...
/kg, indicating an extreme amount of instability in the atmosphere, conducive to strong thunderstorms. Additionally, a strong upper-level jet stream
Jet stream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere . The major jet streams on Earth are westerly winds...
brought significant wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
, which, in combination with the atmospheric instability, indicated a significant severe weather
Severe weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
threat, with the main effects expected to result from downburst
Downburst
A downburst is created by an area of significantly rain-cooled air that, after reaching ground level, spreads out in all directions producing strong winds. Unlike winds in a tornado, winds in a downburst are directed outwards from the point where it hits land or water...
winds and large hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
, but with tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
es possible.
Between 8:18 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (EDT), severe storms producing 1 in (2.5 cm) hail developed over portions of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
; however, little if any impact resulted from these storms. At 10:05 a.m., the SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch
Severe thunderstorm watch
[File:Annual_severe_thunderstorm_watch_frequency_in_the_United_States.svg|thumb|right|300px|Map of average annual severe thunderstorm watches in the United States between 1999 and 2008.Legend:...
for the entire state of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, much of northern New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and parts of western Massachusetts and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. By this time, a broken line of severe storms had developed over parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania. With the storms gradually developing throughout the day and an increasing threat of tornadoes, a tornado watch
Tornado watch
A tornado watch is issued when conditions are right for a tornado to form. Since any thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado is defined as severe, a tornado watch is also automatically a severe thunderstorm watch...
was issued at 1:00 p.m. for much of New England, southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Around 2:00 p.m., severe storms with damaging hail, measured up to 2.75 in (7 cm), and winds around 60 mph (96.6 km/h) developed in eastern New York. These storms gradually tracked east-southeastward into Vermont and later New Hampshire. One particular supercell produced very large 3.25 inches (8.3 cm) diameter hail at Shaftsbury, VT after producing a funnel cloud and baseball sized hail across the border in New York State. At 2:43 p.m., the first of several tornado warning
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
s in the area was issued for southern Coos County, New Hampshire
Coos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
.
Between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., severe storms developed over western Massachusetts and prompted a tornado warning to be issued at 3:28 p.m. for parts of Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
, Hampshire
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
and Franklin Counties
Franklin County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 71,535 people, 29,466 households, and 18,416 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 31,939 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
. About an hour later, another warning was issued for Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and surrounding areas. Within minutes, a touchdown was confirmed near Springfield by local law enforcement and amateur radio operators. This tornado was later rated a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
. Over the next hour, damage was reported as far east as Sturbridge
Sturbridge, Massachusetts
Sturbridge is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to Old Sturbridge Village living history museum and other sites of historical interest such as Tantiusques.The population was 9,268 at the 2010 census...
. At 6:07 p.m., another tornado was reported in Westfield, and again through Springfield and Sturbridge, with the last report at 7:25 p.m.
In addition to the above towns, Agawam
Agawam, Massachusetts
The Town of Agawam is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 28,438 at the 2010 census. Agawam sits on the western side of the Connecticut River, directly across from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts...
, Charlton
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...
, Monson
Monson, Massachusetts
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Monson Center lies at the center of the town....
, Brimfield
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Southbridge
Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Town of Southbridge is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Oxford
Oxford, Massachusetts
Oxford is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,709 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Oxford, please see the article Oxford , Massachusetts.-History:...
, Wilbraham
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
,and West Springfield, Massachusetts
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
all reported possible tornado damage. A total of three people were killed as a result of the tornado and at least 200 people were injured from severe weather across the state. The outbreak included the first killer tornado in Massachusetts since the 1995 Great Barrington tornado
1995 Great Barrington tornado
The 1995 Great Barrington tornado was an F4 tornado that occurred in the western Massachusetts town of Great Barrington.-Storm background:...
.
Confirmed tornadoes
| List of reported tornadoes - Wednesday, June 1, 2011 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enhanced Fujita Scale The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Maine Maine Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost... |
||||||
| EF1 | NW of Bethel Bethel, Maine Bethel is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of West Bethel and South Bethel... |
Oxford Oxford County, Maine Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is... |
44.40383°N 70.68166°W | 3:35 p.m. – 3:36 p.m. | ||
|Brief tornado touched down to the northwest of Bethel, snapping or uprooting numerous trees. Tree limbs were thrown up to 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) away.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|Embden
Embden, Maine
Embden is a town in Somerset County, Maine, United States. The population was 881 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
area
|Somerset
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 52,228. Its county seat is Skowhegan.-History:...
|44.9087°N 70.0273°W
|5:51 p.m. – 6:06 p.m.
|8.4 miles (13.5 km)
|Tornado touched down in a rural area of Somerset County. Damage was confined to trees along the entire path. Winds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph (144.8 to 160.9 km/h).
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF3
|Westfield
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
area to SW Charlton
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...
|Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
, Worcester
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
|42°06′N 72°45′W
|4:17 p.m. – 5:27 p.m.
|37 miles (59.5 km)
|4 deaths – See section on the Greater Springfield tornado
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF1
|NW Wilbraham
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
|Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
|42°08′N 72°28′W
|6:32 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.
|3.6 miles (5.8 km)
|Numerous trees were downed and large limbs were snapped off some trees.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|N of North Brimfield
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
|Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
|42°08′N 72°13′W
|6:54 p.m. – 6:57 p.m.
|1.3 miles (2.1 km)
|Several trees were downed, some of which were uprooted, and large limbs were snapped off some trees. Post-event analysis indicated that the tornado was weaker than initially thought.
|-
|bgcolor=# | EF0
|NE of Fiskdale
Fiskdale, Massachusetts
Fiskdale is a census-designated place in the town of Sturbridge in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,583 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Fiskdale is located at ....
|Hampden
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
|42°09′N 72°04′W
|7:10 p.m. – 7:13 p.m.
|1 miles (1.6 km)
|Damage mostly limited to trees; however, one fell on and damaged a home.
|-
|colspan="7" align=center|Sources: SPC Storm Reports for 06/01/11, NWS Boston, Massachusetts: 1, 2, NWS Gray, Maine: 1, 2, 3
|-
|}
The Greater Springfield tornado
On June 1, 2011, a strong, large, and long-lived tornado left a swath of devastation through Hampden CountyHampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
into Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
in Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts
Western Massachusetts is a loosely defined geographical region of the U.S. state of Massachusetts which contains the Berkshires, the Pioneer Valley, and some or all of the Swift River Valley. The region is always considered to include Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, and the...
. The tornado proved to be unusually persistent, remaining on the ground for one hour and ten minutes along a path 39 mi (62.8 km) long, the second longest on record in Massachusetts. The damage path reached a width of 0.5 mile (0.80467 km). The city of Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
was devastated by the June 1, 2011 tornado, as was the southern portion of the Springfield Metropolitan Area
Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area
The Springfield Metropolitan Area is a region that is socio-economically and culturally tied to the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines the Springfield metropolitan statistical area as consisting of three counties in Western Massachusetts. As of...
- from Westfield
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
to Charlton
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...
. Massachusetts has experienced only eight EF3
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
or higher tornadoes since reliable records began to be kept in 1950, and this was the first on record in Hampden County
Hampden County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 461,228 people, 175,288 households, and 115,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 738 people per square mile . There were 185,876 housing units at an average density of 301 per square mile...
. Overall, the tornado killed three people, injured about 200 others, and left hundreds homeless. In Springfield alone, approximately 500 buildings were destroyed. Hundreds of other homes were destroyed in surrounding towns, including West Springfield
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
(88 structures) and Monson
Monson, Massachusetts
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Monson Center lies at the center of the town....
(77 structures), among others. Damage estimates from the storm, to date, exceed $140 million, the majority of which was from the destruction of homes and businesses. Based on a post-storm survey by the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
office in Boston, the tornado attained maximum estimated winds of 160 mph (257.5 km/h) as it moved into Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, ranking it as a high-end EF3.
Around 4:13 p.m., a strong thunderstorm developed over western Hampden County and gradually developed as it tracked eastward at 35 mph (56.3 km/h). This storm prompted a severe thunderstorm warning
Severe thunderstorm warning
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate a strong thunderstorm is producing dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage. In the United States, it does not account for lightning or flooding...
for portions of Hampden, Hampshire
Hampshire County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 152,251 people, 55,991 households, and 33,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 288 people per square mile . There were 58,644 housing units at an average density of 111 per square mile...
, and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts as well as Hartford
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, Tolland
Tolland County, Connecticut
Tolland County is a county located in the northeastern part of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 152,691.Counties in Connecticut have no governmental function: all legal power is vested in the state, city, and town governments...
and Windham
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
Counties in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. At the time, Doppler weather radar indicated weak rotation
Mesocyclone
A mesocyclone is a vortex of air, approximately 2 to 10 miles in diameter , within a convective storm....
within the storm, a sign of a possible tornado and around 4:17 p.m., a tornado touched down in the Munger Hill section of Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield, Massachusetts
Westfield is a city in Hampden County, in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 41,094 at the 2010 census. The ZIP Code is 01085 for homes and businesses, 01086 for Westfield State...
. The previous severe thunderstorm warning was then superseded by a tornado warning
Tornado warning
A tornado warning is an alert issued by government weather services to warn that severe thunderstorms with tornadoes may be imminent. It can be issued after a tornado or funnel cloud has been spotted by eye, or more commonly if there are radar indications of tornado formation...
at 4:18 p.m. following stronger rotation apparent on radar. Within Westfield, damage was mainly confined to trees but a local school did sustain roof damage. Once the tornado moved out of the City of Westfield and into the City of West Springfield
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
, it rapidly intensified, causing extensive damage to industrial buildings, removing roofs and the upper floors of three-story apartment complexes. Additionally, a few homes collapsed due to the severity of structural damage. Throughout West Springfield, 88 buildings were destroyed and two people were killed. One woman was killed after her home collapsed on top of her while she was protecting her daughter. Another fatality took place when a 5 ft (1.5 m) wide oak tree
Oak Tree
Oak Tree may refer to:*Oak, the tree*Oak Tree, County Durham, a village in County Durham, England*The Oaktree Foundation, a youth-run aid and development agency*Oak Tree National, golf club in Edmond, Oklahoma...
fell on a vehicle, killing the driver.
The storm then crossed the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and moved into Metro Center
Metro Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Metro Center is the original colonial settlement of Springfield, Massachusetts, located beside a bend in the Connecticut River. As of 2011, Metro Center features a majority of Western Massachusetts' most important cultural, business, and civic venues...
, the most urban area of the densely populated City of Springfield, destroying over 500 homes and buildings. The tornado caused extensive damage to Springfield's Connecticut River Walk Park
Connecticut River Walk Park
The Connecticut River Walk is partially-constructed park and bikeway in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, along the banks of New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. Currently, Springfield's section of this park is 3.7 miles long, running from Chicopee, Massachusetts to the South End...
, deforesting much of the park's formerly lush tree canopy and removing large sections of its wrought-iron fences. 200 year-old Heritage Trees in Court Square
Court Square
Court Square in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, is a park and National Historic District in the heart of Springfield's urban Metro Center neighborhood. Court Square is the City of Springfield's only topographical constant since its founding in 1636...
were uprooted and commercial brick buildings in Springfield's historic South End
South End, Springfield, Massachusetts
South End is the smallest of the seventeen neighborhoods of the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. It is located immediately south of Metro Center. It contains of land, plus streets and railroads...
sustained extensive damage - large portions of their roofs were removed and numerous, ornate brick facades were completely destroyed. Severe structural damage to apartments and townhouses took place near famous Mulberry Street
Mulberry Street (Springfield, Massachusetts)
Mulberry Street is the name of an historic street and tourist destination in Springfield, Massachusetts, made famous by Dr. Seuss' first childrens' book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street! Less than one mile from Springfield's Metro Center neighborhood, the Springfield Armory, and The...
and due east on the campus of Springfield College. In the wealthy East Forest Park
East Forest Park, Springfield, Massachusetts
East Forest Park is a neighborhood in the south central part of Springfield, Massachusetts, beginning about two miles from Metro Center. It is a medium sized neighborhood, containing plus rights of way and water bodies...
neighborhood, numerous houses were completely destroyed, and Cathedral High School
Cathedral High School (Springfield, Massachusetts)
Cathedral High School is a Catholic co-educational college-preparatory High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Opened in 1883 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph at the diocese's Saint Michael's Cathedral, its current facility has been at 260 Surrey Road since 1959 in one of the city's residential...
sustained significant damage. Some debris from Cathedral High School was found roughly 43 mi (69.2 km) east, discovered in Millbury
Millbury, Massachusetts
Millbury is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 13,261 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.-History:...
. Springfield's Sixteen Acres neighborhood, an upper-middle class neighborhood - Springfield's most suburban in character - was similarly devastated.
Continuing eastward, the tornado tracked through Wilbraham
Wilbraham, Massachusetts
Wilbraham is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is also a suburb of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts and part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,868 at the 2010 census...
, causing near-total deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and extensive structural damage. The storm then moved through the center of Monson
Monson, Massachusetts
Monson is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,560 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.The village of Monson Center lies at the center of the town....
, damaging nearly every structure in the area. Many homes were badly damaged, some of which were completely flattened. A total of 77 buildings were destroyed, some completely, in the town. In some locations, trees were debarked and had most of their branches removed. The roof of the old Monson High School
Monson High School
Monson High School is a school of about 400 students located in Monson, Massachusetts. Because the town's non-white population is less than 3%, Monson High School is one of Massachusetts' least diverse high schools. The school's construction started in 2000 and was finished in 2002...
, which is now the town's police building, was also completely destroyed.
In Natick
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
, roughly 60 mi (96.6 km) from Monson, a picture from the town was found.
Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the tornado moved through Brimfield State Forest
Brimfield State Forest
Brimfield State Forest is a Massachusetts state forest located in near the town of Brimfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.-Description:...
where it reached its maximum width of 0.5 mi (0.80467 km). Thousands of trees were snapped and uprooted in this area. Near Brimfield
Brimfield, Massachusetts
Brimfield is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,609 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, the Village Green campground, a trailer park, was almost completely destroyed with 95 out of 96 trailers destroyed. Here, one person was killed after her RV
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
was overturned by the tornado. Losses in this area exceeded $1 million. Around 5:09 p.m., another tornado warning was issued to include portions of Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Norfolk County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Adams National Historical Park* Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area * Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site* John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site-Demographics:...
and Providence County, Rhode Island
Providence County, Rhode Island
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 621,602 people, 239,936 households, and 152,839 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,504 people per square mile . There were 253,214 housing units at an average density of 613 per square mile...
. Significant damage took place to both buildings and trees for several miles before the storm moved into Southbridge
Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Town of Southbridge is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. There, the Southbridge Airport sustained some damage and aircraft were picked up and thrown into the nearby woods. Once through the airport, the tornado weakened and eventually dissipated in southwestern Charlton
Charlton, Massachusetts
Charlton is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,981 at the 2010 census.- History :Charlton was first settled in 1735. It was established as a District separated off from Oxford on January 10, 1755, and became a Town in 1775 by a law that made all...
at 5:27 p.m.
Aftermath
Immediately following the storms, the four people were reported dead, although later it was found that one death was unrelated to the storm. Hundreds of people were admitted to hospitals with injuries ranging from lightening strikes to trauma, and almost 500 people were forced to leave their homes, most of whom stayed in the MassMutual CenterMassMutual Center
The MassMutual Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center, in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Built in the city's Metro Center across from Court Square, the facility opened in 1972 as the Springfield Civic Center and was at that time considered to be the largest arena in the...
. Over two weeks later, more than 200 people were still homeless at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. In addition to the MassMutual Center, Tantasqua High School
Tantasqua Regional High School
Tantasqua Regional High School is a public high school in south-central Massachusetts, that serves the towns of Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, Sturbridge and Wales.-Overview:...
in Sturbridge and Brookfield Elementary School were opened up as emergency shelters. A Special Emergency Response Team was activated by the state police in order to search for missing people and those trapped underneath debris.
In Springfield, firefighters from Boston, Worcester, Newton, Waltham, Watertown, and Weston assisted in rescue efforts. Governor
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
Deval Patrick
Deval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
also declared a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
in Massachusetts, and activated 1,000 National Guard
Massachusetts National Guard
The Massachusetts National Guard was founded as the Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, and contains the oldest units in the United States Army. It is currently headquartered in Milford, Massachusetts and commanded by Major General Joseph C...
troops for rescue and recovery efforts. By June 2, six Red Cross shelters had been opened in the state and housed about 480 people. On June 2, 2011, the Business Improvement District of Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
- Springfield's bi-state twin city
Twin city
Twin city or twin town may refer to:*Twin cities : two towns or cities that are geographically close to each other, and often referred to collectively...
- and the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District were helping the Springfield Business Improvement District with clean-up. Within two days of the tornadoes, the process of demolishing 'structures beyond repair' began as local officials inspected hundreds of damaged homes. By June 7, three shelters remained open, housing 362 people.
On June 15, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA) declared Hampden and Worcester Counties as major disaster areas, allowing for government aid to be distributed to affected residents. The following day, the number of insurance claims sharply rose from about 5,000 to 8,200. In addition to federal funds, state lawmakers passed a $50.3 million supplemental budget that included $15 million for emergency response, cleanup, and assistance and shelter to residents affected by the storms. By June 20, just over $1 million in individual aid had been provided to 254 households.
See also
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- 1989 Northeastern United States tornado outbreak - The previous tornado outbreak to affect the Northeast.
- Tornadoes of 2011Tornadoes of 2011This page documents the tornadoes and tornado outbreaks of 2011. Extremely destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the U.S., Bangladesh and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions...
- 1953 Worcester tornado1953 Worcester TornadoThe 1953 Worcester Tornado was an extremely strong tornado that struck the city and surrounding area of Worcester, Massachusetts on June 9, 1953. It was part of the Flint–Worcester tornado outbreak sequence, which occurred over a three-day period from June 6—9, 1953. The storm stayed on the ground...
- Most powerful F4 Tornado to affect Massachusetts. - 1995 Great Barrington tornado1995 Great Barrington tornadoThe 1995 Great Barrington tornado was an F4 tornado that occurred in the western Massachusetts town of Great Barrington.-Storm background:...
- The previous strongest tornado to affect Massachusetts.