Roughly 6,000 households in East Longmeadow have been without power since the storms hit.
A smashed car sits next to the South End Community Center, which lost most of its roof in a tornado that touched down in Springfield Wednesday. The biggest problem East Longmeadow experienced in the wake of the storm was massive power failures.EAST LONGMEADOW -Residents in East Longmeadow might not get power back until Saturday in the wake of tornadoes that hit parts of Western Massachusetts Wednesday, according to reports from National Grid.
There are roughly 6,000 households in town and they have all been without power since Wednesday,”said Selectman Enrico J. Villamaino.
He said there are generators at the fire and police stations as well as Birchland Park Middle School, which is serving as a shelter for the next 48 hours.
Although the schools have generators, Superintendent of Schools Gordon C. Smith has canceled school until Monday.
Selectmen Chairman James D. Driscoll said Birchland Park Middle School will serve as a shelter for anyone in town or in surrounding communities who needs assistance. The shelter will be open from 4 p.m. Thursday until 4 p.m. Saturday. Individuals interested in volunteering to staff the shelter are asked to contact Driscoll at (413) 478-3923.
Driscoll said the senior center has been closed and staff including Executive Director Carolyn Brennan are coordinating the Meals on Wheels program as well as assistance for seniors with oxygen tanks and patients with respirators.
Driscoll, who was on State Street when the first tornado struck Wednesday, said the damage was unbelievable.
“I saw the roof of the South End Community Center come right off. People were roaming the streets and a car was flipped over in front of me. It was just awful,” he said.
Longmeadow High School had to postpone its graduation at Symphony Hall on Thursday night. Vice Principal Peter Dunkerley said the graduation has been rescheduled for Sunday at 11 a.m.
Longmeadow did not suffer any damage, but firefighters assisted West Springfield and Wilbraham from when the tornado struck until 4 a.m. Thursday morning, a fire department representative said.
For more information on how to get assistance contact the East Longmeadow Fire Department at (413) 525-5430 or the Longmeadow Fire Department at (413) 565-3357.