Weather turns calm to help cleanup

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The very thing that caused so much destruction is now helping with the reconstruction.

22News Storm Team Meteorologist Nick Bannin explains how the weather is now back on our side.

"In a minute it was all over. It was complete silence and when we came back outside we couldn't believe what we were seeing," said Mike Bellefeuille of Acrebrook Road in Springfield.

The powerful tornado that flattened many homes in western Massachusetts also powered through homes and a school off of Parker Road and Acrebrook Road in Springfield.

On Acrebrook Road in some cases 100-year-old trees have been just toppled over and everyone is pitching in, family, friends and even the weather is helping out.

"If the weather hadn't cooperated we never would have been able to get into our house at this point and we probably wouldn't have power,"

"We've had some very nice weather ever since Wednesday overall and so that's helped out tremendously we've been able to put in 16 hour days out here,"  said Donna Goda of Acrebrook Road.

The tornado blew trees onto the playground at the Pioneer Valley Montessori School on Parker Road, but the cleanup could have been much worse.

"Thinking how hard it must have been for the people who've had these kind of situations then their cleanup has been in the midst of further rain and storms and we've been so blessed in that way," said Molly Reynolds the head of the Pioneer Valley Montessori School.

With what looks like home insulation still wrapped around mailboxes and plenty of trees to be picked up, there's still much work left to do.

But for many who are left doing that work, there's usually one word they use to describe how they feel. "Blessed I guess is the best word. I've never seen so many amazing people coming together," said Molly Reynolds.