Tornadoes Strike Massachusetts, Maine

On Wednesday, 1 June, four tornadoes struck Massachusetts and Maine. The two tornadoes that hit nineteen western and central Massachusetts cities and towns killed four people, injured over 200 others, and left behind a large amount of property damage. The two tornadoes in Maine were relatively minor.

Media reports:

Boston Globe: ‘It looks like a war zone’ (3 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: Tornado tears through Pioneer Valley, killing two, damaging homes in 9 communities and causing widespread power outages (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Swift response after storm (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Tornado smashes buildings, flips planes (2 JUN 11)

Boston Herald: Twisters carve deadly swath (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: West Springfield mother dies while shielding 15-year-old daughter from tornado (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: 32 Greater Springfield residents hospitalized following tornado devastation in Western Massachusetts (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Picking up the pieces (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Region assesses the destruction (2 JUN 11)

Boston Globe: A twister poses big challenge for meteorologists (3 JUN 11)

WWLP-TV: Springfield tries to clean-up (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: ‘You could hear it, like a freight train’ (2 JUN 11)

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Tornado leaves trail of broken homes, broken hearts (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: Violent Massachusetts tornadoes not unprecedented, according to climate center data (2 JUN 11)

Stamford Advocate: Calm, fear mix outside Springfield convention center turned shelter (2 JUN 11)

WWLP-TV: Springfield schools damaged in tornado (2 JUN 11)

WFSB-TV: Springfield Tornado Claims 3 Lives (2 JUN 11)

Christian Science Monitor: Massachusetts tornado: What are deadly tornadoes doing way up in New England? (2 JUN 11)

Boston Herald: Tornado tales: ‘The scariest thing I’ve ever been through’ (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: Western Mass. tornado recovery effort underway Thursday (2 JUN 11)

NH Union Leader: Tornadoes hit Mass., but were felt in Granite State (3 JUN 11)

NECN: Tornado wrecks Springfield homes, schools (2 JUN 11)

NECN: Brimfield devastated by tornado (2 JUN 11)

NECN: Families mourn tornado victims (2 JUN 11)

NECN: Springfield residents assess tornado damage (2 JUN 11)

NECN: Timeline of deadly Mass. Tornadoes (2 JUN 11)

NECN: Springfield Mayor determined to rebuild (2 JUN 11)

Bangor Daily News: Weather service confirms tornado touched down in Embden, Maine (2 JUN 11)

Bangor Daily News: Tornadoes touch down in northern, western Maine (2 JUN 11)

WCSH-TV: A tornado rips through a Maine community (2 JUN 11)

WCSH-TV: NWS confirms 2 tornadoes touched down in Maine (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: In wake of tornadoes, local crews receiving a hand from state and federal agencies (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: Insurance adjusters descend on Western Massachusetts to evaluate damage caused by tornadoes (3 JUN 11)

WFSB-TV: On Camera: Tornadoes Hit Springfield

Springfield Republican: Photo Gallery: 2011 Springfield Tornadoes tear across Western Massachusetts

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Slideshow: Tornado and severe thunderstorms

Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Slideshow: Aerial photos of storm damage

Boston Herald: Photo Gallery: Tornado hits Mass.

WWLP-TV: Weather Gallery: Tornado Aftermath

WFSB-TV: Slideshow: Tornado Tears Through Downtown Springfield

Boston Globe: Video: Globe photographer describes devastation from tornado

Boston Globe: Video: Brimfield devastated by tornado

Boston Globe Photo Gallery: Panoramic photos of tornado damage in Springfield

Boston Globe: Photo Gallery: Aerial views of the tornado's destruction

Stamford Advocate: Slideshow: Springfield, Mass. storm damage

Christian Science Monitor Photo Gallery: Massachusetts tornadoes (2 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: Videos of the tornadoes that devastated Springfield and other Western Massachusetts communities on June 1, 2011

Background information:

New England City & Town: Tornadoes in New England

Christian Science Monitor: Tornado checklist: What to do – and what myths to ignore

Standard-Times: 'Our turn is coming': Local weather watchers say tornadoes can happen any time, any place (3 JUN 11)

The Standard-Times: Storm preparation improves chance of survival (Editorial/3 JUN 11)