(NECN: Jennifer Eagan, Springfield, Mass.) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick says the people of greater Springfield are "badly shaken" but he considers it a blessing that there weren't more fatalities caused by the tornadoes that hammered the region on Wednesday.
Patrick and Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown surveyed the damage by helicopter Thursday morning.
Residents of tornado-damaged parts of the state are being urged to stay off roads, schools are closed and state workers have the day off. A state of emergency has been declared in Massachusetts.
At least two tornadoes struck on Wednesday afternoon during storms that killed four people and injured dozens more.
Two main shelters have been set up at the MassMutual Center in Springfield and at Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, Mass.
