The National Weather Service is studying the storm to determine if it was a microburst or a small tornado.
CONWAY - Two years ago members of the United Congregational Church in Conway finally returned to their chapel after undergoing a years-long $500,000 renovation to make repairs caused by a severe mold outbreak.
Then Saturday night a severe storm touched down on Whately Road, where the church is located, ravaging two homes and damaging others, flattening a five-story, 300-year old barn that was recently renovated and felling hundreds of trees. It also caused major damage to the church.
"A piece of what appears to be someone's house went through the roof of the church and is hanging into the sanctuary," Pastor Rev. Candi Ashenden said. "The bell tower is out of alignment and the bell has been ripped from its stanchions and is on its side."
There were no reports of injuries in the storm but at least 12 homes, the church and two barns were damaged, some severely, in Conway. In addition, hundreds of trees were felled mainly in Conway and Goshen, knocking down power lines and blocking roadways, said Christopher Besse, spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
Officials are still examining the damage which came when a cold front pushed through after days of record-breaking warm temperatures statewide.
Eversource is reporting 453 of 922 customers in Conway are without power and 82 of 977 residents in Ashfield have no electricity. There are also 150 residents without electricity in Goshen.
The National Weather Service is studying the storm to determine if it was a microburst or a small tornado that caused the damage. It will also determine the size of the area it hit, Besse said.
"It is pretty localized but there is a lot of cleanup. It was definitely a strong storm," he said. "For this time of the year it is definitely unusual."
Typically Massachusetts sees storms of this type an average of three times a year but they typically happen in the summer, he said.
The Agency is currently working with Conway officials to ensure they get the help they need. The state Department of Transportation and the Department of Conservation and Recreation are among those who were called in to assist the town's Department of Public Works in removing trees that were blocking roads and doing other cleanup, Besse said.
Some of the surrounding towns including Bernardston and Northfield are also assisting.
"The towns are smaller so they don't have as many resources so they may need more help," he said.
Conway officials also released a statement about the storm's aftermath, asking people to stay away from the Pumpkin Hollow and Whately Road and warned residents Route 116 is closed.
Conway Grammar School is also closed for Monday.
"Our foremost concern now and for the next several days is for our residents' well being and the safe return to their homes. There were no major injuries or loss of life, however we have multiple homes damaged, many at a total loss along with thousands of downed trees," town officials said.
The United Congregational Church is directly in the path with the two homes and the barn. The structural damage is so severe that it has been closed indefinitely and members with keys are asked to stay out for safety reasons, Ashenden said.
In addition to the damage to the roof and the bell tower, structural supports between the roof and the balcony appear to be pulled away and the staircase leading to the upper floor is also pulled away and unsafe, Ashenden said.
An old carriage house used as a drop-off location for redeemable bottles that are turned in to raise money was also completed destroyed by the storm, she said.
Ashenden said she has been able to get in touch with about a half-dozen members but has not been able to reach many others because phone and power lines are still down.
"I have been told they are OK," she said. "It is devastating but we are alright and we know the church is the people and not the building."
She has also asked members of the congregation to pray for their neighbors, who they know. At least one of the adjacent homes was so badly damaged a side wall is missing directly exposing the living room and kitchen.
Already the building committee for the church has gone through the building to assess the damage. The first thing members did is call the gas company because they discovered a leak with the propane system that heats the church and needed to shut that down, she said.
She said she is hoping the first floor of the church, which is partly built into a hill may have been protected. Since the church congregation completed construction so recently, members have talked with the architect and contractors who did the work and are planning to meet with them Thursday to get a better feel for how much damage was done by the storm.
The church is insured and members have also contacted the insurance company, Ashenden said.
"We are a small congregation with limited finances, especially after the renovations, and I think there will be a major conversation of how we move forward," she said.
But there is little question the congregation of about 25 active members will continue to worship together. During the three years when the church was closed the group used space in a local elementary school for its services and is reaching out to officials there again. If that doesn't work they will find an alternate location, she said.
