Local News
The mayor declared a state of emergency following the severe thunderstorm that also caused outages, downed trees, and knocked out power lines.
Springfield fire officials respond to a reported building collapse at 265 Dwight St. Ext. Springfield Fire Department
A building collapse triggered by severe thunderstorms and intense winds across western Massachusetts on Saturday has left dozens of residents displaced in Springfield.
Fire officials responded to the collapsed building on Dwight Street Extension around 6:30 p.m., the Springfield Fire Department said on Facebook. Officials noted first responders identified a “parapet failure” and a “partial roof collapse.”
No one was injured, though 45 people were displaced, according to the fire department.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno declared a state of emergency following the severe thunderstorm that also caused power outages, downed trees, and knocked out power lines, the City of Springfield shared in a press release.
The National Weather Service issued a warning for the storm effective around 6 p.m. Friday to 5:45 p.m. Saturday, predicting pea-sized hail and wind gusts reaching 60 mph.
“First of all, I hope everyone is ok, and I want to reassure everyone that emergency officials are on scene to the impacted areas and are assessing the situation and the damages,” Sarno said. “Our dedicated city team has been tested and true through numerous natural and manmade disasters, and we will continue to make sure everyone is safe.”
Sarno said the Red Cross is supporting those who were displaced, while Eversource dispatched extra crews from Connecticut to assist power outages.
Springfield areas may have been hit by a “possible micro-burst,” city officials said.
Electricity has since been brought back to the affected areas, a National Grid outage map shows.
“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation, and crews will be working hard to remove downed trees and restore power,” Sarno said. “I want to thank everyone for their patience as we begin to clean up after this severe storm.”
A photo taken above the Dwight Street Extension building shows the damage following the severe thunderstorm on Saturday. – Springfield Fire Department
In a social media post Sunday morning, Gov. Maura Healey expressed her concerns for western Massachusetts communities impacted by the severe storms, pointing to residents who were displaced in Springfield.
“As cities and towns continue their work to recover, we appreciate the collaboration of leaders, first responders, businesses, and community members,” Healey said. “They have our full support as we stand ready to assist in any way we can.”
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