Tornado Cleanup Continues

An EF-0 tornado hit Worcester, Mass., and the city is discussing ways to warn residents for the next storm

As residents try to get things back to normal after a tornado struck, officials in Worcester, Massachusetts, are discussing ways to warn them more effectively when the next storm hits.

Worcester Tree & Stump foreman Paul Rennie and his crew have been cleaning residental properties and city roads like Heywood Street all day Tuesday. The city hopes to have all the debris picked up by Wednesday or Thursday.

"Really, we were spared," said Rennie. "It could have been a lot worse."

The city doesn't know yet how much cleanup will cost, but they say it's unlikely they'll receive any state or federal funding. The EF-0 tornado caused damage to cars and some homes.

There are no reported injuries.

The severe weather lasted only a few minutes, but City Councilor Kate Toomey says some people didn't know it was coming.

"I was contacted by a number of people who said to me that they had no clue," she said.

Toomey has filed an order to discuss the city's emergency notifications protocol. Through Worcester's emergency notification system, she says residents receive cell phone alerts and reverse 911 calls when severe weather strikes.

"I just want to take a look at the process and make sure that all of our bases our covered and that we're doing everything we possibly can to protect the citizens of Worcester," she said.

Toomey also wants to look at the possibility of using sirens.

On Heywood Street, Rennie warns people to be careful if they're removing debris from their yard. He says accidents can happen.

"Work safe," he said. "If anybody's out there doing tree work, homeowners, work safe. Be very careful."

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