Rep. Marilyn Musgrave has asked Gov. Bill Ritter to activate National Guard units to help the tornado-battered town of Holly.

Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan, plans to fly home to her district later today and visit Holly on Friday morning to survey the damage and see what federal assistance is needed, spokesman Aaron Johnson said.

"As a resident of a small town, I know how much devastation a storm like this can cause and how the loss of one life will impact the community," Musgrave said in a written release. "Today, Holly residents will be assessing the rubble and mourning the loss of a young mother, and the best way for them to know my staff and I are there to serve them is to be there in-person."

A staff member from Musgrave's Colorado office arrived this morning in Holly and reported that there were dozens of damaged homes and that power service was interrupted throughout the community, Johnson said.