[ratherbhiking]

So the only reason I didn't end up in this mudslide is because my friend ended up being busy on Saturday so we went on Sunday instead... so I have decided that since I am not very far away and that could have just as easily been me up there - that I should go there and help out. Looking for somebody to go up Saturday morning. Looking for someone to split gas and share a conversation with on the way up there. I'm 30, liberal, in the tech field. Good sense of humor - like hiking, fishing, computers, movies, camping and stuff like that. Please respond with a picture and more about yourself here is my picture: My Picture

[Gwen]

They are asking that people do NOT go up the help as they are already overwhelmed with volunteers and cannot manage them efficiently. I know that we all want to do something, but right now is the time to sit tight and let the trained professionals and trained volunteers do their work. There will be plenty of opportunity in the future when the dust has settled.

[Boywonder]

[ratherbhiking]

^being liberal has nothing to do with this, I just didn't want to end up in a car for several hours with somebody I don't like talking to. Shame they can't manage to organize more volunteers - they clearly don't have enough eyes and hands up there since the vast majority of people haven't been found yet. Oh well - I get it. thanks for the link - gave a little $

[Lazy Hen]

If we really want to help out we need to vote in legislators that support local governments. Zoning laws should have prevented building in a slide zone. When people want less government control, budgets get cut and programs - including aid - aren't available to meet people's needs. There were warnings about building in that area, but when people believe "they can't tell me what to do with my land" and "no more taxes" education is necessary, and money for enforcement of land use regulations. WE are the government; let's use the systems we have to keep ourselves safe.

[DestinationUp]

[Boywonder]

[Schroder]

[Gwen]

Sure would be nice if we could stay away from armchair quarterbacking and playing the blame game until these people and their communities can find some peace, which will not happen until all who are missing are accounted for. Please let's keep it to the task at hand and leave the politicking for later.

[DestinationUp]

[Yana]

[Lazy Hen]

Of course not. We are all too shocked and are grieving for the victims of the slide. But we forget so quickly, until another disaster happens. The trees grow back, houses get rebuilt, people don't want to leave the beautiful place they've lived for so long. It is not political ideology to want to prevent another disaster. The way to do this is through involvement in local government. The officials knew the danger to Oso, but there probably wasn't funding to hire experts to interpret data and get it to the people involved, or make and enforce zoning laws. There are good articles about this in the Friday March 28 Seattle Times, and also see Danny Westneat's column on Wednesday. Get involved; help where you really can.

[moonspots]

[Backpacker Joe]