The state is requiring the DNR to complete and deliver a comprehensive trail assessment to be included on the state's FEMA emergency funds request.

Who else thinks Olympia will use our data to keep us out of the forest for an exteded time? I truly hope I am a pathetic paranoid.

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Or you could take the other view that more info/assessment is a good thing and could help secure federal FEMA dollars and get things under repair in a timely fashion......maybe even repairing previously mothballed projects due to lack of state funding?:excuseme:

Being not only an avid ORV enthusiast but a tax paying American as well, I personally would be pissed off to see FEMA $ go to any trail repair:foul:

I am a north end guy that will venture down to Tahuya every once in a while, and I can feel the pain of the regulars but what you have down there (DNR / ORV trail damage) does not constitute a Federal Emergency:bonk:

I applaud the efforts of the few volunteers and DNR organizing the assessment but do we really think that once the state gets a hold of any FEMA $ they are going to allocate one red cent of it to ORV Trail restoration? NO.... and they shouldn't.

FEMA dollars should go to housing displaced families, restoring utilities, restoring highways, etc....

Don't think I'm not sympathetic to the issue, I am. If I can get down there and help once there is clear direction I'll be down there but ORV users taking FEMA $ is frankly an embarrassment.......

MACE said:

Good point........ keep it low profile and the regular users should get in there and make the most of what mother nature left you... It might be fun:thumbsup:

DNR Lands that are managed at a lower level like Reiter go thru natural damage all the time, (not to diminish the Tahuya damage, it's obviously extensive), but the user groups will eventually always find way to work with the damage:excuseme:

SJMC_DON said:

I agree with you 100%. There are thousands that have lost everything they had, many loosing their lively hoods (did you see the news episode with all of the dead cattle? they are saying as much as $500k in dead cattle and some farmers don't know if they'll even be able to get back on their feet.) That money should first and foremost be used to assist these people with getting back on their feet, rebuilding damaged roads/bridges, etc. I was always under the impression that FEMA was there to assist people, rebuild communities, etc., not to rebuild recreation. But if the guys in Olympia and in the White House think they can get by with using FEMA to rebuild trails, more power to them I guess. Although I would rather see that money being spent on people, not recreation.

I too agree FEMA money is not needed here. If our trails are blocked we will clear them because we want to ride. The only hurtle is needing approved bridges replaced. Those take time, money and engineering to do to code. I miss the old days where you would ride across the river of fall a few big trees and use those :D

You all make excellent points and I agree with you.

I am not on the FEMA bandwagon for trail repairs at the expense of helping families either. My earlier post was in context to first post that mentioned DNR wanted trail assessment for FEMA $$........I read that as a separate fund that could be available to get some areas opened back up quicker than otherwise might be possible. But as you mention, if it's at the expense of helping hurting families......no way!

Just wanted to be clear about that.

what is the answer? lets take up a trail repair collection.

You're right Spode.....sorry! I kind of innocently remarked about the contents of your first post and everyone went Vesuvius.....wasn't my intention.

I do appreciate your update. E-mail address will be forthcoming.

jcspode said:

Spode - Everyone in this forum that cares, knows the status of Tahuya and surrounding area. You and others have done a great job of communicating that to us. I think it's great that you and others want to get in there and restore the area and open it up ASAP.... Go ahead and assess the damage, I hope you guys can get a good sense of what it is going to take for the users and DNR, unassisted by FEMA, to open the place back up.

I felt I interpreted you original post and subsequent posts regarding FEMA support correctly and I am the one thinking "I can't believe you people!"

I hope that my earlier post does not discourage anyone from doing their part, if they can, to try and re-open that area but FEMA money has no place in this situation:prof:

PM Sent with my e-mail address.

Easy fellas, it's just an opinion, so be it. You can add my name to that list if it isn't on there already: joe@jonescreektrailriders.org

Now if any club would like to have the services of the JCTRA 6x6's, chain saws etc please let me know. To get this equipment up to CF or Tahuya I would need to put it to a vote for our club members to get approval, under the circumstances I do not think it would be a big deal. It costs me plenty of money to drive up there pulling a big trailer so I would need a little planning put into a trip so we can maximize the benefit. I spent all day walking trails in JC and found that we made out well, no significant storm damage. I would love to see our club reach out and help others that were hit hard.
Joe..........

Every dollar "wasted" by FEMA is a dollar not spent on the Iraq war. I'd much rather have FEMA dollars spent here in the U.S. on Pork rather than a water treatment plant in Iraq. Sure, they need one, but do I need to pay for it?

Back to Tahuya: If they need help doing the inventory during the weekend, I'm game.