It was one moment I wasn’t expecting when I walked into my hotel room when I arrived in Chicago. In fact it was almost surreal. I turned on my TV and on the Weather Channel I was watching a bunch of towns and cities getting taken out by a set of tornado’s. To my horror I started recognizing the photos and videos they were showing. That wasn’t just some town. That was MY town. My area. Where I live. In Western Massachusetts, a place that never expected a tornado never mind many.
My first night there it took 3 hours just to get a hold of someone because phones were down. When I finally got through a cell phone line I found my kids were in a dark basement hiding out with no power while trees and live electrical lines were around the house. While we’ve all gotten lucky and had no home damage we have a lot of tree damage. However, many weren’t as lucky.
There is such devastation around here. I actually could see it on my drive home since I had to drive right through Springfield.
Here is a shot from NASA. It’s the trail it left after destroying Springfield. They say it’s not normal for a tornado to keep it’s power that long after.
Or some more aerial views…
(All photos were from MassLive.com)
It hit the city, took out schools, buildings, and more…
It hit the country too.
There were so many homes lost, and sadly lives as well. One mother actually died sheilding her 15 year old child in a bath tub. My heart just breaks for that daughter.
A HUGE Thank you to all my readers that posted on my wall, tweeted, emailed, and more to make sure all was okay. It meant so much to know you were thinking of my family!
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That is so scary!! I’m glad your family is ok.
That is just insane and so sad. I know no one up there was prepared for that.
Oh my goodness! I feel for you and your town! It will take awhile to get back to normal! I live near Joplin, MO which basically no longer exists right now. My in-laws live even closer to there. It’s so sad! We have major flooding going on where I live in Omaha, Nebraska. My uncle works in the public power plant. He’s been super stressed!!!!!!
I am so glad you are all okay. We have had tornadoes around us a lot lately. It is really scary… I can’t imagine being away from my family when one hits. Hugs to you all.
I was shocked to hear that a tornado touched down in Western MA, we are in Eastern, MA, and to hear about the mother who died trying to protect her daughter was heartbreaking. I’m glad your family is okay, I couldn’t have imagined being away from my family during it.
I heard about that mom. What one of us wouldn’t do that? My heart goes out to that family. Such devastation. so hard to wrap our minds around. I never look forward to June in MN!
I can imagine your terror being so far away from your babies during that storm! Oh that would be awful! I am so very glad they are all ok. Those pictures are unreal. Especially that one of the house upside down!
WOW – THAT’S HORRIBLE! I NEVER GET TO WATCH THE NEWS. I NEED TO SAY SOME PRAYERS FOR THESE POOR PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS.
NICOLE
That is so scary that you were gone when it happened! I’m glad you and your family are fine. I remember when the coverage came on about it and I thought for sure I had heard it wrong…Massachusetts? Crazy!
I simply hate stories like that of the mother protecting her child but I know I would do that in a heartbeat as well for my kids.
I’m so glad that your family and house remained untouched but feel horrible for all the other families grieving for all that was lost. 🙁
The tornado season this year has been AWFUL. It breaks my heart to see all that damage
I’ve never seen a tornado in real life but I will say ever since the AL tornadoes they are sound the tornado alarm in towns when there isn’t any touchdowns just to make sure that people take it seriously when the weather is severe! I’m glad your boys and hubby were fine!
Oh Lord, I’m so happy your children were okay, and your property was okay too I’m assuming? My prayers go out to all those poor people in your town.
So much devastation… it’s heartbreaking. I’m thankful your family was okay. I can’t imagine being away from home and seeing that on the news.
OMG THANK THE LORD YOUR BABIES WERE OKAY! OMG You just gave me shivers up & down my spine! I can just imagine how you must have felt watching that on TV. You poor honey! You all are in my prayers.
OMG that is so scary! I am so happy your family is ok and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who were not so lucky. Living in Eastern SD we come to expect these, fortunately we’ve been lucky *so far* this year. This year has been so sad for terrible weather like this.
Glad your family was safe
I am so glad your family and home are okay. Those pictures are scary. My thoughts go out to all the families affected by the tornado.
It’s just horrible. I can’t believe the crazy storms we’ve had this season all over the US.
That is just SO awful!!!
So devastating and sad. My heart goes out to all of those who lost loved ones.
I didn’t know you are in Mass! I am, too. In Worcester, though, so we didn’t get hit – just a lot of warnings. We had a funnel cloud, but it never turned into a tornado. A good friend of mine’s parents live in Sturbridge and they have massive home damage, although, the house is still standing. I have lived in Oklahoma and Colorado, both known for regular tonadoes, but it was weird to have on here.
Oh my 🙁 this is so hard to see. My heart goes out to all that were impacted by this. HUGS!
Oh wow. That is so sad. 🙁
My heart goes out to everyone affected by the tornadoes. 🙁
Wow I hadn’t heard about that at all.
And I know this wasn’t the point but were you in Chicago at Wilton? (Just curious)
such destruction. so sad for everyone affected. glad you and your family are ok.
Oh no! I am so glad your family and your house is OK. There have been way too many horrible natural disasters lately. This has to end!
OMG, I’m so sorry that your family and hometown had to go through this. I can’t tell you how much these images and tornado horror stories frighten me this year. I just pray everyday that everyone stays safe.
That’s terrible. It is so sad for those affected.
It really is incredible how the weather has been going lately-All these freak storms that are just DEVASTATING every part of the country–I’m just glad that YOU were okay on your trip to the windy city!
I’ve saw enough damage since the 4.27 tornadoes to last me a lifetime. It’s heart wrenching.
So devastating for those hit. We get them in our area all the time, but we’ve been lucky so far.
That left me with a wow, another wow…and yet another.
So hard to imagine. Many prayers hopefully being heard and felt.