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Date: 6/7/2023
SPRINGFIELD — At 4:38 p.m. on June 1, the only sounds to be heard outside of City Hall were the tolling of bells in Old First Church and the Campanile Clock Tower. At that exact time, 12 years ago, the tornado touched down and left a 6.2 mile long scar through Springfield and continued through Western Massachusetts.
To remember the day that impacted many, Mayor Domenic Sarno was joined by city officials and members of the Springfield Police Department for a moment of silence and reflection.
Sarno described it as “a devastating EF-3 that ripped through a third of the city of Springfield at 168 mile per hour winds.”
He shared, “It was the resiliency of the people, not only in the business community, but especially the residents in the city of Springfield that kept us going 24/7.”
Sarno thanked the “heroes” which included the first responders, police, fire, American Medical Response and others, who worked to make sure lives were saved.
“By divine providence, no one lost their life in the city of Springfield,” Sarno said. He recognized the two individuals in West Springfield and one in Brimfield who died from the tornado.
“If this had hit at 2:38 in the morning, we would’ve all been asleep. If this had hit at 2:38 in the afternoon, our students — including my daughters — would have been in school,” said Sarno.
He went on to say that the city came out of this “bigger, better and stronger.”