By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-971683.mp3
Springfield, MA – The top elected officials in Massachusetts toured the tornado damaged sections of the state Thursday. National Guard troops deployed to help search damaged buildings. Efforts continue to clean up debris, re-open streets and restore power. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
US Senator John Kerry said he believed damage would run into the tens of millions of dollars, and he was confident the disaster would qualify for federal financial assistance.
Kerry, Senator Scott Brown, and Governor Deval Patrick walked through a Springfield neighborhood that was ravaged by Wednesday's storms and rode in a helicopter to view from the air some of the damage done. Governor Patrick described it as a real mess.
Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms rolled from west to east Wednesday producing significant damage in at least 19 communities. Governor Patrick declared a state of emergency and called up a thousand National Guard troops.
Authorities said at least 200 people were injuried as a result of the storms. In Springfield, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Conant said urban search and rescue teams were at work and no one had been found trapped beneath rubble.
There are no reports of anyone missing in the storms aftermath.
Officials in Springfield say thousands of buildings have been damaged..
Springfield City Councilor John Lysak, who walked through the South End neighborhood, where members of the Army National Guard were doing health and welfare checks. Specialist Christian Oster said they are checking damaged buildings .
More than 250 people spent Wednesday night in an emergency shelter set up in the downtown civic center. Jonlic Fuentes went to the shelter with her brother after discovering her two family home had been destroyed.
Dozens of small businesses on South Main street in Springfield were left in shambles. Edward Puscillano was at work in a design and advertising firm in a small office building when the storm hit.
Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchet said he was optimistic that all of the streets could be cleared of debris by Friday morning.
Fitchet praised the collaboration among local, state and federal officials. He said the deployment of the National Guard was critical, because it permitted Springfield police to resume normal operations with patrols and investigations.