In the News

SPRINGFIELD — Local officials said Thursday they are pleased with progress in the recovery from Tropical Storm Isaias, and are assessing costs to pursue emergency aid.

The officials, including Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, gathered at Forest Park, with a backdrop of downed trees and branches.

They discussed and praised the ongoing cleanup from Tuesday’s storm that knocked down countless trees, branches and power lines.

Sarno had declared an emergency in Springfield on Wednesday after a large area of Springfield was left without power, water and cell phone service. The declaration precedes formal requests for federal and state assistance.

Neal, who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, said the storm was devastating, with 250,000 households left without power in Massachusetts “and a lot of tree damage, everywhere.”

“I hope that once we compile all the data and numbers, we will submit them to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and see if they can offer some relief to these communities,” Neal said.

On Thursday, Sarno was hopeful that most customers would have power restored by midnight. He praised the efforts by city departments, in-house and hired forestry crews, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s all about team and it’s all about relationships,” Sarno said. “Hundreds and hundreds of trees came down which made some very dangerous situations.”

The Police and Fire Departments responded to a deluge of calls, he said.

“Every inch of this city, everyone has been affected by this storm,” said Patrick Sullivan, the city’s director of parks, buildings and recreation management.

Sullivan and other city officials said that it is not just the trees ad power lines that pose a threat to the public, but also the hanging, damaged branches and wood debris. The downed branches and brush can create a fire hazard, he said.

The city will seek assistance from the state’s Urban and Community Forest Program from its urban forest service strike teams to help assess the damage and long-term resources, Sullivan said.

The storm brought sustained winds of 40 miles per hour in some areas and wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour, according to reports.

Making matters worse, a 36-inch diameter water main break occurred Wednesday morning on East Columbus Avenue, at York Street, A Springfield Water and Sewer Commission crew responded to the water break shortly before 6 a.m., and water was restored at approximately 9:45 a.m.

Sarno thanked residents and the business community for their patience “as we work together with all of our community partners to clean and clear up our parks, open space and woodland areas, and restore all of of our power and water outages we experienced.”

Those who gathered at Forest Park for the storm update and to view some of the damage also included Park Commission Chairman Brian Sullivan, City Forester Alex Sherman, Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, David Bloniarz from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and Patrick Carnevale, who serves as director of Gov. Charlie Baker’s Western Mass. office.

In addition, those at the storm update included officials from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and Sheriff’s Department.