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Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through Massachusetts
At least two tornadoes ripped through western
Massachusetts Wednesday evening, leaving at least 4 people dead and dozens of
others injured. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick said one of the deaths
occurred in Springfield, two in Westfield and one in Brimfield. At last 40
residents sustained injuries. Patrick declared a state of emergency after the
storm system passed.
In an appearance on Good Morning America Thursday,
Patrick said it is a “remarkable thing” that there were not more causalities. "When
I spoke with the mayor of Springfield yesterday, he told me they had about ten
minutes' warning," he said. "When you consider how quickly the
tornadoes developed and then touched down, the fact that there wasn't even
greater damage and loss of life is a remarkable thing."
Search and rescue efforts are being led by 1,000
Massachusetts National Guard members. Rescue teams were going
building-to-building Thursday morning looking for survivors. Residents have
been advised to remain at their homes as many of streets are filled with debris
and downed power lines.
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency spokesman Scott
MacLeod said 19 communities reported tornado touchdowns after 4 p.m. At least
10 communities, including Springfield, Monson, Westfield and Oxford, have reported
severe damage. Authorities are still assessing the damage.
MacLeod told the AFP that the severity of Wednesday’s
twisters is unusual for the state. "The severity and magnitude of the
tornadoes we saw today is unprecedented in Massachusetts,” he said. "On an
annual basis, we expect to see one, two or three tornado watches or warnings
but certainly the impacts we've seen as a result of today tornadoes is
extremely severe.”
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