DENVER-
The town of Holly is slowly rebuilding after a devastating tornado nearly a month ago with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agencies, state officials told lawmakers on Tuesday.
Susan Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs, said officials are still trying to determine the extent of damage and which properties will be covered by insurance.
She said the community of 1,048 near the Kansas border was lucky because volunteers were training in disaster relief in Pueblo the day before and many were on their way home when the tornado struck at 8:12 p.m. on March 28.
“The town response was very dependent on volunteers,” she told the Joint House and Senate Local Government Committee.
She said the state is helping the town locate resources, materials and assistance from other local governments, with long-term community planning and design, and rebuilding its water system.
The tornado injured eight people and killed a mother. Kirkpatrick said 48 structures were destroyed or suffered major damage and 114 received minor damage. She said the recovery “is going extremely well.”
Gov. Bill Ritter set aside $1 million in state assistance to help offset the cost of temporary housing, mental health services and other needs. Kirkpatrick said $145,000 was spent on transporting 50 travel trailers and mobile homes provided by the federal government from Hope, Ark., to Holly.
The Salvation Army said Tuesday it is continuing to help the community cope with the disaster, serving about 12,000 meals since the tornado hit.
The Salvation Army said it has not made a decision on a date when it will stop the meal service, but it will probably extend beyond May 4.
The agency said volunteer chefs and others with professional cooking experience are needed to help prepare the nearly 3,000 meals each week.
