Officials are assessing the operational use of Munger Hill School.
Former Mayor Michael Boulanger removes one of the trees Thursday that snapped in his yard on Glernwood Drive in Westfield Wednesday. In the back is his neighbor's house that took the brunt of the damage.WESTFIELD – For a brief 10 seconds Wednesday afternoon, Thomas W. Humphrey watched a tornado jump over his 84 Cardinal La. home, dumping a 20-foot section of steel roof from nearby Munger Hill School into his backyard swimming pool.
“It is only by fortune, that I did not realize until today, that my house was saved,” said Humphrey Thursday. He pointed to a pile, at least eight-feet high, of broken and twisted trees and tree limbs stacked on his side property line, a mere 50- feet from the house. The only damage, outside of cleanup, was the loss of electricity.
“A flying section of tree grabbed the wires and pulled the (electric service) from the house,” he said.
A short distance away, also in the southwest section of the city, Ted Drummey and his brother were “10 minutes from finishing” a new picket fence at his mother’s home at 57 Glenwood Dr.
“We saw the clouds coming, the wind picked up and we headed for the basement,” said Drummey. Before they got there, a large oak tree was ripped from the ground, smashing into the east corner of the roof and separating the exterior wall from the rest of the single family home.
This home on Glenwood Drive in Westfield sustained significant damage in Wednesday's tornado.
“The wind was so loud that new never heard the tree hit the house,” he said. His mother Catherine Drummey was away on vacation. No one was injured, Ted Drummey, a Westfield firefighter, said.
The storm that hit Westfield went onto West Springfield, Springfield and into Munson.
No fatalities or serious injuries were reported in Westfield, according to Mayor Daniel M. Knapik and Emergency Management director Jimmie D. Wiggs.
Most of the damage was confined to the Ward 5 section of the city and Ward Councilor Richard E. Onofrey Jr. said he was “astounded by the amount of damage. I was absolutely amazed at the amount of cleanup accomplished today.
“Last night and this morning there were streets that you did not know existed because of debris. Not all have been cleared by many have,” Onofrey said.
Damage did close Munger Hill School Thursday because a section or roof was torn from two kindergarten classrooms and caused other damage at the Mallard Lane school. Knapik said the school would remain closed Friday while an assessment is made to determine if it can reopen next week.
Westfield State University has offered the city use of two buildings on campus if necessary to allow Munger Hill students to complete the remainder of the school year.
“We have Juniper Park School and Bates Hall if necessary for city use,” said WSU spokesman Brent B. Bean II.
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R. Mass., on a tour of storm damage in Western Massachusetts Thursday with Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, called the devastation “sobering”, and emphasized efforts by volunteers and emergency response personnel as well as donations being made to the Red Cross to assist victims.
Murray estimated “weeks or even months to get a full assessment of damage and costs. We must get this right,” he said, “to ensure we get the maximum financial and other assistance available.” He said state and federal aid is “already in the works.”
State Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield, the state’s School Building Administration is prepared to assist Westfield with necessary repairs at Munger Hill School as well as other communities with school damage. “SBA will send a crew next week to assess the damage at Munger Hill,” he said.
Joining Knapik was state Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, in assuring city officials and residents assistance will be available. They also advised residents to contact their homeowner insurance agents for clean-up on private property.
The mayor saying the “situation could be much worse,” advised residents to pile debris at curbside for collection by DPW crews.
“Everyone is and must work together,” said the mayor.
The mayor and senator, who are brothers, said it was “heartwarming” seeing neighbors helping neighbors.
Numerous streets in the Southwest section of the city were either closed or partially closed Thursday while Department of Public Works crews first removed trees and debris, allowing crews from Westfield Gas and Electric Department to restore power. There was no estimate when all streets would be clear and electricity restored.
Wiggs said at least 20 volunteers were helping more than 100 contractors, police, fire and utility department workers in the effort. He said representatives of both the Massachusetts State Police, FEMA and MEMA were in Westfield to help and coordinate cleanup efforts.
A wall of trees and limbs prevented entrance to the Munger Hill School campus Thursday but three teachers Stephanie L. Martell, Kathy Wippet and Claire M. Adams were there to assess damage and help where needed.
Adams, a grade three teacher, said her classroom was unsafe because a section of ceiling had fallen. She lives within walking distance from the school on Laurel Terrace. “I have no damage at all,” she said.
“We are just here, coming together to help and move forward,” said Adams.
Bean, who lives on nearby Ridgecrest Drive, also reported no property damage. “Not even a stray leaf on my lawn,” he said.
Two houses away from the Drummy home on Glenwood Drive, former Mayor Michael R. Boulanger was using his chainsaw to remove downed trees and limbs. One crashed a fence on his property line but only limbs cluttered his property.
Boulanger was traveling on Route 57 in Agawam when the storm hit. “I watched the funnel cloud go by and into West Springfield and then cross the Connecticut River,” he said.
Off-duty Fire Capt. Eric Bishop was on Glenwood Drive, as well as other streets, Thursday assisting Drummey and others with debris removal.
“I am out helping where help is needed,” said Bishop.
Neighborhoods here hit by the Wednesday’s tornado were Shaker Heights, Glenwood Heights, Birch Bluff and Knollwood.