(NECN: John Moroney, Springfield, Mass.) - The tornado caused plenty of damage on June 1, 2011, tearing up the neighborhood in Springfield, Mass. where Richie and Elizabeth Samay still live.
At 4:38 p.m. two years later, church bells across Springfield tolled to mark the anniversary of when the storm roared into the city.
The violent storm ripped a 39-mile path of destruction across Western and Central Massachusetts, killing three people in the process.
Places like Springfield's North End are still trying to get back on their feet.
"People thought we were against the ropes, the haymaker was coming, Springfield was down for the count," said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. "The exact opposite happened."
Monson, Mass. was another town that was hit very hard. Construction to repair the First Church on High Street is still ongoing, while other parts of town are still scarred by the Category 3 tornado.
Back in Springfield, the Samays are moving on with their lives. But now, they think a lot about the people in Oklahoma who have been hit hard by tornadoes in recent weeks.
