By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-977457.mp3
Springfield, MA – Six weeks removed from the deadly and devastating tornadoes in Western Massachusetts and the city of Springfield has taken more steps forward in the rebuilding process. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill has an update.
A consultant with experience in urban disaster recovery is being sought by Springfield to help formulate the rebuilding master plan and an implementation strategy. A 15 member citizens committee has been appointed by Mayor Domenic Sarno to offer advice on the rebuilding plan and persuade the community-at-large to accept it.
The Rebuild Springfield Advisory Committee includes six people representing each of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the June 1st tornado, and 9 people drawn from faith based organizations, educational institutions, the business community and housing specialists. Each of the 9 was impacted by the tornado.
Rev. Bruce Shaw, Senior Pastor of the New Hope Pentecostal Church, which was damaged by the storm, says the committee he has agreed to serve on has a lot of work to do.
The committee's meetings will be public. The first one , scheduled for Wednesday, July 20th, will commence with a bus tour of the tornado damage. Officials say an EF-3 rated tornado with wind speeds up to 160 miles an hour traveled from west to east for six point 2 miles across the city. It cut a quarter mile wide swath , damaging or destroying homes, businesses, parks , churches, schools, and historic structures. 75 hundred mature trees were lost.
Gerald Hayes, one of the two people tapped by Mayor Sarno to lead the initial phases of the multi-year rebuilding effort, says an ad has been placed for an experienced disaster recovery consultant and 45 firms will be contacted directly about applying for the work.
The goal is to hire the consultant by late August and produce a master plan by Thanksgiving. Hayes said the consultant will also be required to suggest funding sources for the rebuilding projects..
Developing the master plan and following through on it will be an expensive proposition, according to Nicholas Fyntralakis, who along with Hayes, is heading the public private partnership managing tornado recovery in Springfield.
Fyntralakis appealed for donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals to help pay for the planning work..