Tornadoes in Mass. leave 4 dead
Tornadoes hit Massachusetts, Wednesday, tearing through western and central parts of the state and killing 4 people.
Storm damage is seen in downtown Springfield, Mass., Wednesday. A tornado struck the downtown of one of the state's largest cities on Wednesday afternoon, scattering debris, toppling trees and killing four.
Jessica Hill/AP
Four people died Wednesday when at least at least two tornadoes swept through western and central parts of the state, Massachusetts' governor said.
Gov. Deval Patrick said two people died in Westfield, one in West Springfield, and one in Brimfield in the central part of the state. He had no details about those killed.
The storms did extensive damage in Springfield, the state's third largest city.
Patrick said the path of damage from the first and more powerful of the two tornadoes extended from Westfield, just west of Springfield, and extended east to the community of Douglas. He said the second, slightly less powerful, tornado cut a path from West Springfield all the way to Sturbridge in the central part of the state.
Patrick declared a state of emergency and called up 1,000 National Guardsmen.
The storms also caused an unknown number of injuries and extensive damage. Patrick said the death total was preliminary.
The storm hit the Springfield area after a tornado watch was issued for much of the East Coast, including Philadelphia, New York and Boston.