WEST SPRINGFIELD (CBS) — Emergency crews have blocked off many roads in the tornado-affected areas of western and central Massachusetts. They are concerned for people’s safety, and don’t want someone getting hurt while crews are cleaning up, or if buildings aren’t stable.

On Friday, WBZ-TV’s Paula Ebben was anchoring the noon newscast live from West Springfield.

Just as she was about to go on air in the middle of the newscast, a tree fell very close to where she was standing.

Paula Avoids The Tree

Paula was able to run out of the way, and was not hurt. She said her reaction was to the faces of firefighters standing in front of her, who looked panicked. The tree in fact fell a few feet from where she was standing.

Ebben explained that her crew set up in a location that was safe at the beginning of the newscast. As the show progressed, a tree service that had been working down the street, removed a tree much closer to them.

WBZ-TV crews covering the disaster in the Springfield area are doing their best not to get in the way of cleanup crews, while responsibly reporting on the devastation.