The day's loss erased more than a quarter of the stock market's gains for the year.

Associated Press photoSpecialist Evan Solomon works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Fears that the economy is stalling sent the Dow Jones industrial average down 280 points, erasing more than a quarter of the stock market's gains for the year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Fears that the economy is stalling sent the Dow Jones industrial average down 280 points, erasing more than a quarter of the stock market's gains for the year. Treasury bond yields fell to their lowest level since December as traders put a higher value on safer investments.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 279.65 points, or 2.2 percent, to 12,290.14. It was the biggest point drop since June 4 of last year, and the largest percentage drop since August. The S&P index lost 30.65, or 2.3 percent, to 1,314.55. The Nasdaq composite fell 66.11, or 2.3 percent, to 2,769.19.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond fell to 2.95 percent. Bond yields fall when prices rise.

Doubts about the economy's strength that built in May were compounded by were weaker-than-expected reports on manufacturing and jobs. The Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index fell to 53.5 in May from 60.4 in April. A reading of more than 50 indicates the manufacturing industry is growing, but the index had been as high as 61.4 in February. Private employers added just 38,000 jobs in May, down from 177,000 in April, according to payroll processor ADP. Analysts had expected 180,000 new jobs.

"It looks like this recovery has hit its second "soft patch," which for a recovery that is less than two years old is troubling," said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist for Capital Economics.

The manufacturing and jobs reports, plus a decline in automobile sales in May led several economists to lower their expectations for the year. JP Morgan was among a handful of investment banks that revised down its estimate for GDP growth in the second quarter to 2 percent. The downgrade followed one the bank issued last week. The Dow was down nearly 180 points in midday trading and lost another 100 points after noon as asset management firms sent notes to their clients announcing their economic revisions.

The latest reports on retail sales, first-time applications for unemployment benefits and factory orders will be released Thursday and analysts say any additional signs of economic weakness could push the market even lower.

On the heels of those readings, the Labor Department's more comprehensive jobs report, which includes hiring by both private employers and the government, will be released Friday. The ADP figures include about 24 million workers at the 430,000 companies that use ADP to process their payrolls while the government's numbers capture the entire workforce of about 140 million. Analysts are already expecting those figures to be worse than they anticipated just a few weeks ago.

"As far as we can tell, employers have hugely overreacted to the surge in oil prices, which has slowed but not killed consumption," said Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist for High Frequency Economics. The weak ADP results pushed him to cut his forecast for overall job growth in May to 75,000. He earlier had forecast Friday's report to show growth of 175,000 jobs.

Stock losses came across the market, with all 10 industry groups that make up the Standard and Poor's 500 index losing more than 1 percent. Companies that have benefited from expectations of worldwide growth were especially hard hit. Caterpillar, Alcoa, and Boeing all lost more than 3 percent.

The discouraging reports join a host of other news that has dampened hopes for a strong economic recovery and helped knock the S&P 500 down 1.4 percent in May. Still-high gas prices, a continued housing market decline, weaker-than-expected GDP and tepid consumer confidence — along with concerns about debt problems in Europe and the debt ceiling in the U.S. — have all weighed on markets.

Companies reporting results were not spared from the broad market drop. General Motors fell 5 percent after it said U.S. sales weakened in May. The car maker sold 221,192 vehicles, down 1.2 percent from a year earlier. It cited a decision to cut sales to rental car companies for the drop. Ford Motor Co. lost 4.6 percent after reporting similar declines.

Dollar General Corp. fell 9.3 percent after the discount store operator's first-quarter profit growth fell short of analysts' expectations. JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. also reported first-quarter profit growth below analysts' expectations. The men's clothing maker fell 13 percent.

Five stocks fell for every one that rose on the New York Stock Exchange. Consolidated volume came to 4.4 billion shares. The Dow is still up 6.2 percent for the year, the S&P 500 4.5 percent.

The force of the tornado was a "weird experience," a West Springfield woman said.

SPRINGFIELD – The force of the tornado Wednesday caused debris to smack all the way up against the 13th-floor window, where Martha G. Waldron worked downtown.

“We saw the dark clouds and we saw how the river was so turbulent, and then all of a sudden, you saw debris flying at our level and you could see a dark funnel cloud,” said Waldron, critical quality improvement coordinator with BMC HealthNet Plan, at One Financial Plaza, at Main and Court streets.

“It was just a weird experience,” said Waldron, of West Springfield.

The weather showed its surprising power in another way, she said, recounting how the energy of the funnel cloud seemed to lift part of the Connecticut River, visible from her office.

“It looked almost like the water was coming up,” Waldron said.

People said they had a difficult time getting a cell phone signal.

Springfield resident Mirna Colón was getting her hair done at a downtown hair salon when what she described as dark cloud began covering the sky. “I saw a dark cloud and then what looked as a tornado, a lot of wind with garbage,” said Colon.

Victor Melendez, of Springfield, was among many local folks who stayed outside as the winds blew. “I saw the tornado taking debris from the downtown building. I stayed outside to see if I could help others, I may be 71 years old but I am agile and have gone through similar things in hurricanes,” said Melendez, native of Puerto Rico.

Traffic was brought to a standstill in the center of the city while ambulances tried to squeeze by.

Large trees were torn from the ground.

Local residents walked downtown dialing their cell phones trying to reach family and friends. Many could not get a signal. “I called my daughter and couldn’t reach her. I just have to make sure she is ok,” said Colon.

Many worried that the city was not prepared for this events. “There was a lot of debris on top of the buildings and that should be taken care of in case something bigger could happen because look at what happened to Japan,” said Melendez.

Jennifer Dann, manager of Café Lebanon on 1390 Main St., described how the winds blew the chairs in the business’s patio area, but no said one was hurt.

“All the doors got wide open and it got really dark,” Dann said. “We thought it was going to be just another thunderstorm but the debris was flying, the branches falling, all at the same time. We have patio tables and everything was picked up by the winds but luckily no one was hurt, we have glass windows but everything flew towards the other direction.”

Local businesses began closing early evening. “We are concerned about power running out, everyone is trying to get a hold on their families and we heard there was a ga leak down the street,” Dann said.

Blogger Tony Mateus captured scenes of the tornado's aftermath.

SPRINGFIELD - Tony Mateus, author of the blog In the Valley, was in Springfield's South End shortly after the tornado hit. He shot the following footage -- one 20-second video, and a second video that clocks in around one minute.

The tornado took the roof off a building on Central Street.

SPRINGFIELD - At South Congregational Church on 45 Maple St., a few dozen people took shelter in the basement.

Harry Lofland, 55, of 323 Central St., Springfield: “It took the roof right off of my building. I live on the fourth floor. Now I’ve got nothing.”

Lofland’s girlfriend, Yvette Whiting, said she was at home with her grandson when Lofland called to tell her the tornado was coming her way. “As soon as I hung up, I saw two boys running outside and then I laid down on the floor on top of my grandson to protect him. He’s six. The wind was just blowing away the roof. The roof wasn’t there any more.”

Asaivion Whiting pointed to his heel, where there was a bandage, to show where he got a bruise. “I was scared.”

The Baystate Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice at 50 Maple St.: The parking lot at 50 Maple St. was teeming with activity. Springfield and state police officers as well as other law enforcement authorities were coming and going and talking on two-way radios. The streets are completely filled with Springfield police cruisers, state police cars, fire vehicles, at least a dozen ambulances, all with their lights flashing.

Blogger Tony Mateus captures damage in downtown Springfield on video.

There are widespread power outages across Western Massachusetts and severe damage in downtown Springfield a little over three hours after a tornado touched down in the city.

Western Massachusetts Electric is reporting over 14,000 customers are without power as of 7:30 p.m.

Blogger Tony Mateus, author of the blog In the Valley, was in Springfield's South End and captured incredible footage of the damage the storm caused in the downtown area.

Meanwhile video from WWLP-22 News' downtown Springfield SkyCam showed the funnel cloud forming over the Connecticut River, swirling water and debris high into the air as it formed.

Streets were closed in downtown Springfield and there were reports of cell towers being down which caused intermittent cell service outages throughout the area.

Follow updates from The Republican newsroom on MassLive news as this story continues to develop.

SPRINGFIELD - Faced with damage throughout the city and gridlock, officials are calling all off-duty firefighters and police to report to the emergency command center. The command center is at 50 Maple Street. Personnel are needed to tend to the injured, direct traffic and do general patrol work, said Sgt. John Delaney, police spokesman

SPRINGFIELD - Faced with damage throughout the city and gridlock, officials are calling all off-duty firefighters and police to report to the emergency command center.

The command center is at 50 Maple Street.

Personnel are needed to tend to the injured, direct traffic and do general patrol work, said Sgt. John Delaney, police spokesman

"You could hear the rushing noise, and you could feel the air getting sucked out of the little area where we were," Pamela Arwady recalled.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – Pamela Arwady was shopping toward the back of the TJ Maxx store at Century Center on Memorial Drive when the storm hit at approximately 4:30 p.m.

“A woman came back running from the front of the store, yelling: ‘There’s a tornado in the parking lot. You’ve got to find shelter,’ ” Arwady recalled.

She ran, with a group of other shoppers and employees, into a steel-sided room in the back of the store.

“You could hear the rushing noise, and you could feel the air getting sucked out of the little area where we were,” she said. “I could feel it over my feet.”

Pam said the tornado appears to have come down at Court and State Street. Many of the big old trees are uprooted in the square.

Windows were blown out of many parked cars.

Some people were out taking pictures.

Many alarm systems were going off in commercial buildings.

Windows blown out of storefronts on Memorial Drive.

There was gridlock everywhere in the downtown area. Portions of Main Street were closed. Crossing the river was very difficult.

Windows were blown out of Berkshire Bank building on Columbus Avenue and out of many of the cars in the lot. One young woman was looking at her car in the bank’s parking lot, with the windows all blown out. “I just got it!” she exclaimed.

Patrick said he is asking that schools close in affected areas after a spate of tornadoes that killed at least one.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has declared a state of emergency after several tornadoes touched down in Western Massachusetts, including at least one that tore through downtown Springfield at about 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday.

In a press conference Wednesday, Patrick said he had been informed of a second tornado touching down in Springfield.

"They're following a similar path, east to west, mostly following along the Pike," Patrick told reporters.

Patrick said he is asking school superintendents to cancel school in affected areas for safety reasons.

Asked by reporters if recent, more devastating tornadoes in the Midwest would affect federal relief for Massachusetts, Patrick said it would not be an issue.

"FEMA is already on the ground in Springfield," Patrick said.

In terms of the damage in Western Mass., Patrick said he had been informed via media reports that there was one death in West Springfield.

West Springfield Police Captain Daniel M. O'Brien reportedly told 22News that a man was killed in West Springfield when a tree fell on top of his car during one of the storms.

"I've heard various reports about houses, schools — I think in Monson the roof was taken off of a school building, a church was destroyed," Patrick said.

Patrick warned, however, that "it's all anecdotal at this point. I don't have much information."

He urged residents to stay in their homes while the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and other local, state and federal agencies respond to the disaster.

"It's very that motorists and pedestrians stay off the roads and give us an opportunity to do the clearing necessary to make sur everyone is safe," Patrick said.

—— S.P. Sullivan, MassLive.com

Westfield Gas and Electric reported widespread outages.

In Westfield, police reported the southeast section of the city, including the Shaker Road, Shaker Heights and Pontoosic Road areas, were mosty heavily hit by the tornado when it touched down there. Police said there were no injuries reported as of 8 p.m., but there was “significant property damage” in the section of the city bordering Agawam and Southwick.

A section of roof at the Munger Hill Elementary School was blown off, and the school will be closed Thursday and Friday, according to Police Lt. Lawrence P. Valliere. “Part of the roof was whacked,” said Valliere.

Police and the municipal utility, the Westfield Gas & Electric Light Department, reported widespread power outages due to downed trees and utility poles brought down by the wind.

Ross and Theresa Rodgers, of 61 Pontoosic, had recently placed the home their family has lived in since 1905 on market for sale, only to find themselves now facing making repairs.

“It blew out a window in the bathroom and brought down a large tree,” Ross Rodgers said. He had dispatched his wife and their grandson to the basement for safety and then watched as a funnel cloud passed by their home, he added.

The victim was in a car crushed by a tree on Main Street in West Springfield, police said.

The Republican | Dave RobackA car traveling down Main Street in West Springfield was crushed by a fallen tree during Wednesday's storm. An occupant of the car was killed, police said.

WEST SPRINGFIELD – One person was killed in a tornado that struck here late Wednesday afternoon when a falling tree crushed the car they were in, police said.

The person was driving down Main Street, police said.

No more information was available.

MassLive will update this story when more is known.

The courts will be open for emergency personnel.

SPRINGFIELD - Hampden County court officials canceled jury duty for first-day jurors Thursday after a tornado blasted through downtown Springfield.

Hampden County Hall of Justice Judge David Sacks said he witnessed the tornado just as he was leaving work

Sacks said had been preparing to drive a clerk to their car in the South End when he realized he had forgotten something and returned to his office on the fourth-floor shortly after 4:30.

“My timing couldn’t have been better - or worse,” Sacks said. “I saw the water spouts coming across the Memorial Bridge from my lobby.”

At that point, the judge returned to the basement garage for safety.

Chief court officer Kenneth O’Connor and several members of his team pressed themselves into service outside the courthouse to help public safety officials clearing tree limbs and other damage and with traffic control for several hours, according to Sacks.

The Hall of Justice complex will be open, but emergency personnel only should report for work. Please call me at home tonight if you have any questions.

Patrick said he was made aware of four confirmed deaths: Two in Westfield, one in Brimfield and one in West Springfiel

Over a thousand members of the Massachusetts National Guard have been called upon to engage in response efforts after several tornadoes struck the city of Springfield and as many as 19 communities across the Commonwealth.

Gov. Deval Patrick, who declared a state of emergency across the state earlier Wednesday evening, said there were two confirmed tornadoes in the Greater Springfield area.

Patrick said he was made aware of four confirmed deaths: Two in Westfield, one in Brimfield and one in West Springfield.

"Those are not final numbers, though we are hoping and praying to keep the numbers limited to those four," Patrick said.

Patrick said he would head to Western Massachusetts to survey the damage Wednesday evening.

This is a developing story. More details will be added as they are made available.

At One Financial Plaza, Adam Formus said, "You could feel the pressure change. It was like riding up in an elevator."

SPRINGFIELD – Adam E. Formus of Enfield was at work on the 16th, and uppermost, floor of One Financial Plaza overlooking Court Square late Wednesday afternoon.

He and his coworkers were transfixed by the gathering storm, he said.

“Then there were people in the hallway screaming at us to get in the stairwell in the center of the building,” Formus said.

Once there he knew the storm had passed because his ears popped.

“You could feel the pressure change,” he said. “It was like riding up in an elevator.”

Next thing he knew, he was being evacuated down the stairs and out the door.

Blaney, of Northampton, said the tornado reminded her of another first-hand experience: Sept. 11, 2001.

The Republican | Brian SteeleSandra E. Blaney, of Northampton, was in her brand new Subaru Impreza when the tornado hit. She said she felt the windows blow in on her. "I didn't want to see what was happening," Blaney said.

SPRINGFIELD – Sandra E. Blaney saw the trees on Bliss Street bending in the wind and thinking to herself: "Those trees are pretty old. There is no way they could break.”

Blaney had just moved to Northampton from New York City . She’s had her new job at Johnson and Hill Staffing for a few weeks. She’s had her 2011 Subaru only a few weeks.

And now she was stuck in traffic with a funnel cloud bearing down her.

“I closed my eyes,” she said. “I didn’t want to see what was going to happen.”

But she felt the car windows break inward. She felt the shards of broken glass hit her arms and neck. When she opened her eyes, the parking lot seemed a wasteland, she said. Cars were destroyed. Trees down. Bricks from nearby buildings littered the ground.

Blaney said she saw injured people. She was unhurt.

““I’m just shaken up. Shaking like a leaf,” she said.

She’d just started a job in Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001.

“This reminded me of that terrible day,” she said.

"Forty windows have been blown out, including the casing and all that," said Sheriff Michael J. Ashe, Jr. "In addition to that, part of the roof. ... Plus we have a gas leak."

SPRINGFIELD - More than 150 inmates were evacuated from the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center after Wednesday's tornadoes rendered the building too unsafe to occupy.

The facility's 135 men were taken to Hampden County Jail and House of Correction in Ludlow while the 18 women were taken to Western Massachusetts Women's Correctional Center in Chicopee, said Richard McCarthy, spokesperson for the Hampden County Sheriff's department.

Vans from the two prisons had to brave the extreme weather to pick up the Springfield inmates 11 at a time. Some had to make multiple trips, McCarthy said.

"Forty windows have been blown out, including the casing and all that," said Sheriff Michael J. Ashe, Jr. "In addition to that, part of the roof. ... Plus we have a gas leak."

The building's roof has two penetrations in it and the chimney was lifted. It now leans to the side and the flue has to be examined to determine if it's safe, said McCarthy.

Ashe said the facility is "not fit for occupancy."

"We're out of Howard Street. We can't stay here," he said.

McCarthy said there was "significant window damage and flying debris embedded in the side of the building." Lumber and bricks from surrounding structures damaged the center and many of the vehicles in the parking lot were destroyed.

Sheriff's department captain Patrick Murphy, head of security, said the staff responded quickly after the tornado hit. The inmates were moved to the basement and the facility was opened up to the public as a shelter. The inmates and the public were in separate locations, he said.

There were no attempted escapes or any other incidents during the evacuation, he said. He credits what he said were the fast and brave actions of the staff and the complete cooperation of the inmates for the smooth process.

McCarthy said he was not sure if the facility would be relocated and reopened.

"None of our attention has been focused on that tonight," he said.

Outside the building, Murphy said, several people were injured during the storm, including three young people with cuts to their legs and arms. Correctional officers, including Officer Ryan Trexler, assisted them while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

"(A woman) sustained an injury to the back of her head and she was bleeding pretty bad," said Trexler. He put pressure on the wound and stayed with her until paramedics arrived, he said.

"I think it goes to say a lot about the Sheriff's department and the training we receive," he said.

The church on Maple Street was shelter for men, women and children ordered off the street by police.

SPRINGFIELD – Yvette Whiting covered her 6-year-old grandson with her body on the floor of her apartment and after the ear-splitting noise of the wind was gone Wednesday, she looked up, and saw the sky.

The tornado-force wind peeled back the roof at 323 Central St., said Whiting and her boyfriend, Harry Lofland.

They were among a few dozen people who took refuge in the basement of the South Congregational Church United Church of Christ, 45 Maple St.

“(Lofland) called me from the bus station and said it was coming our way. As soon as I hung up, I saw two boys running, and then I laid down on the floor with my grandson to protect him. He’s six. The wind was just blowing real hard,” Whiting said.

Her grandson, Asaivion Whiting, pointed to a bandage on his heel to show a bruise he had suffered.

“I was scared,” said Asaivion, who was among those looking outside the church door as rain poured down.

Lofland displayed pictures he had taken and stored on his cell phone that showed the top of a building that looked like the top corner had been chewed off.

“It took off the roof of my building. I live on the fourth floor. I got nothing left,” Lofland said.

The church is across the street from 50 Maple St., the Baystate Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, which was the command center for public safety personnel.

City and state police officers arrived steadily for more than an hour. Cruisers and other public safety vehicles lined the roads and parked at angles on the median with lights flashing.

“It’s a disaster,” Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney said.

All off-duty city police officers and firefighters were ordered to report to 50 Maple St., he said.

“We’re assessing the damage,” Fire Department spokesman Dennis Leger said.

Thousands of trees were down around the city. Especially hard hit were East Forest Park, which had lost electricity, Maple Street and Sixteen Acres, he said.

From about 4:30 p.m. on, police along Maple Street used the public address radios in cruisers to blare messages to pedestrians and others who had streamed outside to see the strange weather: “Find a place to be. Go inside. Find a safe place. Get off the street.”

“Crazy, yo?” said a man running by the church.

Shalawnda Carr is the secretary at South Congregational Church. She was busy leading people to the church basement for shelter, at the direction of police officers.

“I’m at a loss for words. I don’t know how to explain it. Am I scared? Absolutely, I’m scared, just looking at the people in the basement, some of them have lost their homes,” said Carr, 32.

The church is 160 years old and has a membership of 300, said Carr, who was unsure how long Wednesday night the basement would serve as refuge.

Joewarren Marrero and his family had been at the church since about 5 p.m.

“We haven’t had dinner,” said Marrero, 29, just before 9 p.m.

Beside him sat his wife, Melissa Marrero, 26. Milling around the church were their daughters Zandalyz, 9, Chanis, 7, and son Jaiden, 3. Asleep in a baby carrier in a floor at his mother’s feet was Samuel, age 3 weeks.

The Marreros live at East Park Street and were directed to the church by police.

“We were in the house and everything and we heard the wind start picking up and things were falling,” Mr. Marrero said.

“My wife called for me to help close the windows. The next thing I know, it sounded like jet engines. I couldn’t close a window because the pressure from the wind was so strong,” Mr. Marrero said.

A light pole outside toppled over and just missed his third-floor window, he said.

The Marreros said they are unable to afford cable television and were critical of city officials for failing to provide a warning to people about the tornado.

Ultimately, Mr. and Mrs. Marrero said, the Bible foretold the damage the tornado wrought.

“I feel sorry for those who were hurt, who lost their homes, but there’s a lot of things in the Bible. Everything is in the Bible,” Mrs. Marrero said.

“Everything that’s happening is happening because there’s so much sin in the world,” Mr. Marrero said. “Everything’s happening – global warming, all these wars, earthquakes. Everything’s happening for a reason,” Marrero said.

Minnechaug students received automated phone messages from their principal assuring them their prom had not been canceled.

SPRINGFIELD – Chan Thar Pye Sone, a senior at Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, scratched at least one item off his bucket list on Wednesday: surviving a tornado in a tuxedo.

He was among more than a hundred students who made it to the prom at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, just about two hours after one of several tornadoes ripped through pockets of the city and the region.

Promgoers shared the venue with about 500 bereft and bedraggled evacuees from city neighborhoods who lost their homes to the twister.

Storm victims were confined to the first floor while a continuous parade of limousines pulled up and deposited giddy teens in front of the Main Street sporting, entertainment and banquet facility.

Some looked confusedly out at huge uprooted trees and other wreckage across from the center with puzzled faces when they arrived.

“Am I the first one here?” senior Anthony Prieto, 18, of Wilbraham, asked as he wandered into the lobby, adding: “Oh, phew,” when he spotted another limo arrive.

For Sone’s part, the Burma native said he and about 19 of his friends were posing for photos in a picturesque yard on Peak Road in Wilbraham when the winds kicked up.

“My friends all ran into the basement,” said Sone, a native of Burma. “I ran into one of the front rooms and tried to shoot some photos.”

He said the funnel cloud that touched down into the front yard on Peak Road looked “angry.”

Another member of the party, Anthony Yacavone, 17, said one of three limo drivers hired to take them to the prom cut away a downed tree that blocked their path. Off they went – making it to the prom just a half-hour late.

John Cushman, a senior from Hampden, said Springfield police rushed his party of eight inside from their limo as the threat of a second twister loomed.

While many of their classmates were unsure whether the event would be canceled, they were reassured by an automated message from their school principal.

Dinners were served a bit late, but students said the event may be extended because of the late start.

Some students said they were unaware of the scene that awaited them downtown.

“Now I don’t even recognize Springfield,” said Prieto, whose date, Lauren Jilson, 16, of Monson, said she knew her parents were safe but was unsure about the state of her family’s home as she prepared to dance the night away in a red satin gown.

There were widespread reports about devastation across Monson, but phone service was spotty at best following the storm so Jilson could not get any news.

Cathedral High School and St. Michael's Academy were heavily damaged.

Schools in Springfield, Wilbraham, Hampden and Westfield will be closed on Thursday after the tornado damaged a number of buildings in the communities.

Cathedral High School and St. Michael’s Academy in Springfield is also closed on Thursday.

In Springfield, Azell M. Cavaan, spokesman for Superintendent Alan J. Ingram said the buildings will be closed while damages are examined.

“There are some damages but we are still assessing. I don’t know to what degree they are damaged,” Cavaan said.

In Westfield, a section of roof at the Munger Hill Elementary School was blown off, and the school will be closed Thursday and Friday, according to Police Lt. Lawrence P. Valliere.

James C. Wiggs, emergency management director for Westfield, said all city schools will be closed until the city is able to evaluate circumstances on Thursday. Three houses in the city were also totally destroyed.

Cathedral High School and St. Michael’s Academy on Surrey Road were heavily damaged. One priest at St. Michael’s broke his leg and suffered a separated shoulder.

“The schools were badly damaged,” Dupont said. “We will assess them tomorrow to see what has to be done.”

Windows were blown out at Cathedral School. Students were inside at the time but no one was injured, he said.

The Cathedral graduation, scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the school, is expected to be moved. Tentative plans are to hold it at St. Michael’s Cathedral on State Street because the church was not damaged in the storm, Dupont said.

An advisory will be put out as soon as a decision is made, he said.

Selectmen opened Soule Road School and Minnechaug Regional High School as emergency shelters.

Submitted photoA Wilbraham resident took the photo while sitting in his car in Wilbraham during Wednesday's storms.

WILBRAHAM – With hundreds of downed trees and power lines, roads were not passable after a tornado touched down late Wednesday afternoon.

Selectmen Chairman Patrick J. Brady said he saw roofs off buildings and roof trusses in a subdivision off Tinkham Road.

A newer subdivision on Tinkham Road across from Minnechaug Regional High School had siding ripped off the houses, Brady said.

Traffic had slowed to a halt throughout town as commuters tried to make their way back home.

“We’re declaring a state of emergency” so that police can order motorists to get off the roads, Brady said.

Selectmen opened Soule Road School and Minnechaug Regional High School as emergency shelters.

No homes in town had power. Major intersections at Boston Road and Stony Hill Road and Boston Road and Main Street were without power.

Telephone lines were down, so commuters were not able to reach family members who were at home. Cell phone service throughout the town was extremely spotty.

Most people were not panicking.

During recurring thunderstorms, people were outside photographing huge uprooted trees on Stony Hill Road. Other people were watching the storm from their porches on Main Street. Some people, unable to get down Main Street in their cars, bicycled down the street.

Brady said police had reported minor injuries.

Police and firefighters were going door to door on the southern part of Main Street and Tinkham Road, checking to see if there was anybody with serious injuries.

There was no power in the Village Store after the tornado struck. Rebecca Lamb, an employee, said she sent some Wilbraham & Monson Academy students back to school because the basement was not set up for tornadoes.

Lamb said a neighbor came in and told her she saw the tornado in the sky. One of her fellow employees returned to her home at the corner of Main Street and Tinkham Road and found that there were rooms missing on the back of the house, Lamb said.

“It was good to see emergency crews coming to town from Ludlow and Bondsville,” she said.

Kathy Taylor, 63, of Rochford Drive, said the tornado “sounded like a train.”

“I could feel it coming so I ran down into the basement. I stayed down there. I could hear trees falling and branches hitting the house. And then it was over. It didn’t last very long – probably a few minutes. The severity of it lasted maybe 30 seconds.”

Across the street, James Lasonde, 82, heard a “roar.”

On Longview Drive, 85-year-old Barbara Sweeney “heard a terrible, terrible noise. They say it does sound like a train, and I guess it did sound like a train. It was loud.”

Staff reporter Bill Wells contributed to this report.