Springfield remembers 2011 October snowstorm 15 years later

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Fifteen years ago, a rare October snowstorm struck western Massachusetts, bringing down trees, knocking out power and canceling school across the region.

The storm hit on October 29, 2011, two days before Halloween. Springfield was among the places hit hardest.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said his responsibility during natural disasters was to residents and the business community.

“My obligation during these natural disasters that my administration and I had dealt with is, first, to our residents and business community,” Sarno explained.

Western Mass News First Alert Meteorologist Liam Murphy was an eighth grader living in Springfield when the storm hit. He said Halloween was canceled and his power and school were out for a week.

“That was pretty impactful for everybody,” Murphy said.

Because it was a fall storm, many trees still had their leaves. Murphy said the wet, heavy snow added weight to the trees, causing branches and entire trees to fall. Power lines also came down.

“It was a heavier, wetter snow, so all of that extra weight led to a bunch of trees to snap and break,” Murphy added. “There was tons of power lines down, tree branches down, even whole trees that came down because of the weight of that snow.”

Sarno said the storm reinforced the need to prepare for future natural disasters.

“Mother Nature can be beautiful at times, but also can be very dangerous at times and can change like that. So, better to be prepared,” Sarno added.

Sarno noted Springfield residents helped the city get through the storm.

“The people of Springfield are resilient and we got through it. I hope it never happens again,” Sarno said.

A few years after the 2011 natural disasters, federal officials recommended that Springfield apply for a federal resiliency grant. In 2016, the federal government awarded the city $17.8 million to help make it stronger after all five natural disasters combined.

Sarno said Springfield was the only standalone city in the country to receive such a grant.