DENVER-
Gov. Bill Ritter declared Holly a state disaster area Monday, setting the stage for the state to seek federal aid following the deadly tornado there last week.
A preliminary review by state and federal emergency management officials showed the storm Wednesday damaged 164 homes, including 48 that were uninhabitable. A mother of two was killed after being thrown into a tree, and eight other people were injured.
“After visiting Holly on Thursday, I know firsthand how devastating the tornado was to the community,” Ritter said.
He said the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and other state agencies would assemble a community disaster recovery team to coordinate state efforts.
The state also will review whether state grant funds can be used to help repair or replace infrastructure, he said.
