Massachusetts Recovers After Tornado
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | July 1, 2011
A tornado that ripped through central and western Massachusetts on June 1 killed four people, injured 200 others, downed trees, ripped roofs from hundreds of homes, and damaged many historic buildings.
Springfield, Mass., business owner William Feinberg's life was turned upside down that day, when winds tore up the roof and some of the brick work near the top of the building on Main Street.
"It was a major shock for me, just to lose your building in one fell swoop. This is mind-boggling," says Feinberg, owner of Bel-Mar Insurance Agency Inc. "We think it might be [a total loss]. We don't know. The insurance on the building will not match anywhere near what it's going to cost to repair."
President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Hampden and Worcester counties on June 15, freeing up federal funds for affected residents. Over the past weeks, preservation groups have been offering assistance to historic communities, especially Springfield and Monson, which were hardest hit.
National Trust Offers Help
In response to the tornado, the National Trust's Northeast Office joined forces with Preservation Massachusetts to give preservation-related guidance to residents in need.
To reach out to business owners and homeowners, Preservation Massachusetts put out a call for volunteers. So far, almost 100 preservation professionals have come forward, including several people who volunteered their time after Hurricane Katrina. Preservation Massachusetts is also hosting two "Ask an Expert" days this summer to assist owners of damaged historic properties.
"We have been able to see where Preservation Massachusetts can be of assistance, and where we can be most effective to encourage communities to not rush to demolition," says Erin Kelly, assistant director of the statewide nonprofit, a National Trust partner. "We've never dealt like anything like this before. It's not something you're really ever prepared for. We've seen the damage, and it's truly incredible and unlike anything we've ever seen."
Michele Plourde-Barker, Preservation Massachusetts' central and western Massachusetts circuit rider, grew up north of Springfield and is shocked by the damage to the city.
"You can't recognize neighborhoods [anymore]," she says. "Going through these streets that I was familiar with and seeing that trees are totally gone, these mid- to late 20th-century subdivisions are decimated as well as whole areas of downtown, it's just unbelievable. You see it on TV, but you don't think it's going to happen here in Massachusetts."
For photos of the damage, visit Preservation Massachusetts' Flickr site>>
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