MONSON – — About $28 million was spent here to clean up and rebuild following the 2011 tornado, according to data provided by the town and private sources. Three hundred homes were damaged, including 77 that were destroyed. Insurance payments to rebuild and repair those properties totaled $12 million.
“The loss equaled about $12 million in lost value, according to the assessor’s office,” said Monson Town Administrator Evan Brassard.
“I believe that everyone waiting for insurance money has gotten their funds. I know that people had significant challenges in receiving their funds depending on their insurance carrier. Some were quicker to pay than others. Also, I know that numerous people had trouble with the insurance adjusters who processed their claims. Many went to third-party adjusters when the assessment of loss came back too low to adequately rebuild.”
The tornado badly damaged First Church of Monson, felling the steeple and clock tower. According to the church, restoration work cost $2.2 million, of which 90 percent was covered by insurance.
The new, $10.3 million Town Hall replaced the old structure that was condemned due to storm damage.
Insurance paid $8 million. That was used to fund the new town facility at 110 Main St. The payments were also for a new Conservation Department building, and money to refurbish Veterans Field.
The police department, located in the new municipal building, now has adequate storage space, a secure lockup facility, interior and outdoor security cameras, a new communications tower and improved Internet connectivity, with state-of-the-art fiber optics.
Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to Monson totaled $3.664 million, Brassard said. He said the final payment of $3,700 was received last year, with the bulk of it allocated during fiscal 2012.
“Most of the (FEMA) money went to debris clean-up,” the administrator said in a recent interview. The town also obtained $300,000 to plant trees.
Brassard said one remaining project involves rebuilding the skate board park, expected to be completed later this year.
“We’re moving on. We’re going to be talking about other stuff. We’ll be happy about that,” he said.
By Jim Russell | Special to The Republican
on May 31, 2016 at 6:30 AM, updated May 31, 2016 at 6:33 AM
Picture:
Scenes from Monson and Brimfield five years after a tornado tore a path of destruction through western Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. Pictured here is the Congregational Church which was heavily damaged in the storm. (FRED GORE / SPECIAL TO THE REPUBLICAN)
Frederick Gore / Special to The Republican
