COVID-19 UPDATE - PPE SHORTAGE IS REAL

COVID-19 UPDATE - PPE SHORTAGE IS REAL

Non-profits, local government, and healthcare facilities throughout the country have been trying to obtain both N95 and surgical-type face masks for the last month to help protect front-line medical workers.  PWORA has been part of that effort and continues working hard to obtain masks and other PPEs for local hospitals.

The lack of PPE in the USA is appalling and it appears to be getting worse not better.  Our friends at Harbor Freight have been doing their part to help fill in the PPE gap.  The lack of PPE is best highlighted by a message they sent out today to PWORA and other parties who have been trying to secure masks.

Here is that message.

On behalf of all of us at Harbor Freight, we want to thank all of the amazing healthcare workers and healthcare organizations who requested donations of personal protective equipment (PPE). The number of requests we received was overwhelming: over 13,000 applications from hospitals and more than 43,000 email recommendations from individuals and organizations. We only wish we had enough PPE for every one of the courageous healthcare workers and first responders caring for our communities under these most difficult circumstances.

The immediate need for PPE is beyond alarming. We hope manufacturers, suppliers and other businesses across the country with the ability to donate PPE will do whatever it takes to help.

Over the last several days, we have shipped more than 44 million pairs of nitrile gloves and hundreds of thousands of masks and face shields to hospitals in over 1,000 communities that our stores serve.

We are deeply grateful for the enormous efforts of the frontline individuals caring for those inflicted with COVID-19, the healthcare workers and caregivers supporting our communities, and for everyone fighting to limit its spread. The days ahead will be challenging, but together we will get through this fight.

With gratitude and best wishes for your health and safety,

Donations

Harbor Freight Tools

26541 Agoura Road

Calabasas, CA 91302

PWORA will continue our efforts to secure PPE and also strongly urges our members to follow STAY AT HOME orders from local and state authorities.  This is not a joke.  A growing number of our friends and family in the powersports or recreation industry have gotten the virus and some have passed away.  Please follow the Covid-19 guidelines out of respect for both the living and those who have perished.

PWORA COLLECTING MASKS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

According to Business Insider, the federal government has roughly 12 million N95 respirators and 30 million surgical masks in its national emergency stockpile, that's less than 1% of the 3.5 billion masks the Department of Health and Human Services estimates will be needed over the next year.

LINK TO BUSINESS INSIDER ARTICLE

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-you-can-help-donate-face-masks-doctors-nurses-coronavirus-2020-3

PWORA was founded to provide assistance during natural disasters and the Covid-19 crisis is just such an occasion.  Over the last few days, PWORA has been doing outreach to healthcare providers and confirms stories from 1^st responders and other news sources that there are severe shortages of masks and other PPEs.

PWORA has offered to help collect  N95, surgical, or similar-type masks that are used by the construction, painting, or other non-medical services and will deliver those masks to healthcare facilities where they are needed.

If you have unopened boxes or packages of masks, gowns, safety glasses, gloves, or goggles that you would like to donate to PWORA’s effort, please contact Don Amador at: damador@pwora.org

This crisis is going to get worse before it gets better and our healthcare professionals need our help now. 

COVID-19 MESSAGE FROM PWORA PRESIDENT

 PWORA President, Don Amador

COVID-19 MESSAGE FROM PWORA PRESIDENT 

As Covid-19 related “shelter-at-home” orders and directives remain in effect in many areas of the country, PWORA wants to assure our network of partners, volunteers, and sponsors that we continue to work with agency staff and other stakeholders via electronic transmissions to help build our capacity to help land managers recover, restore, and reopen recreation facilities damaged by previous wildfires and to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season.

PWORA understands the frustration that is felt by many outdoor enthusiasts who are seeing more local, state, and federal units shuttered to help “Flatten the Curve.” 

PWORA and other non-profit cooperators are also concerned about the current group size limits, social distancing, and proposed additional access restrictions and their effect on important volunteer trail stewardship projects that have been put on hold until government agencies are able to have staff once again work at, or out of, the office.

While a lot of agreements and planning efforts can be accomplished to some degree via telework, there is no substitute for in-person meetings, field trips, and on-the-ground collaborative trail recovery projects.

PWORA believes it is important for our network to honor Covid-19 restrictions to protect the health of ourselves and the community.  Our efforts now to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus will help shorten the length of access restrictions and allow for us to get back out in the field to do our recovery work.

Thanks for your support and stay well during these challenging times.  We will get through this.

Don Amador, President/CEO

Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance

www.pwora.org

PWORA RESPONSE TO COVID-19 - Cancelled Events and Volunteerism

PWORA Rapid Response Trailer

PWORA RESPONSE TO COVID-19 – Cancelled Events and Volunteerism

Over the last couple of months while the Covid-19 virus was in its early stage in the USA, PWORA has been continuing its work to build capacity to help restore and recovery OHV recreation facilities impacted by natural disasters.  Many of those efforts include submitting CA OHV grant applications, working on our FS Master Agreement, trail tractor training, and offering FS approved chainsaw classes.

In addition, one of those efforts was to obtain an 8.5 x 20ft. Rapid Response Trailer (RRT) to help deliver assets to help with volunteer recovery efforts.  On March 13, 2020, PWORA picked up our RRT (funded by a generous grant from the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative) and are now in the process of getting  it outfitted with logos/decals and equipment/supplies.

Today, we are facing the Covid-19 crisis which is another type of natural disaster.  Covid 19 is not just restricted to forest lands in California but is impacting people, jobs, travel, schools, and other activities – including powersports related events - on a worldwide basis.

As OHV and other competition events continue to be cancelled or rescheduled, PWORA will be working with our land agency partners to identify volunteer trail days for small OHV strike teams (small groups of 3-5 people) since many jurisdictions have limits on group size during the crisis.

If you would like to support or sponsor any of PWORA’s programs or help with outfitting our RRT please make a donation at the PWORA website – www.pwora.org

Getting through this crisis is a team effort and PWORA appreciates your willingness to help serve.

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PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

NEWS RELEASE - Comment on PWORA's OHV Grant Applications

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: March 2, 2020

Contact: Don Amador, President, damador@pwora.org

               Eric Lueder, Grant Administrator, elueder@pwora.org

Phone: 925.783.1834           

          COMMENT ON PWORA'S OHV GRANT APPLICATIONS     

      OAKLEY, CA (March 2) -  On March 2, 2020, the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) submitted OHV grant proposals to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division for areas on the Mendocino National Forest that were impacted by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

     PWORA submitted the following two grant applications; a restoration grant (G19-04-28-R01) to replace barriers on St.  John’s Mountain; and a ground operations grant (G19-04-28-G01) to construct drainage improvements on the Mason Connector Trail.

NEXT STEPS:  Public Review Process

     PWORA’s preliminary grant applications will be available for public review from March 3, 2020 to May 4, 2020 on the OHMVR Division’s website.   PWORA encourages public comments and feedback on our grant applications.  Comments must be received no later than 5:00pm (PST) on Monday, May 4, 2020.

     All comments must be submitted via the OHMVR website  or mailed to the OHMVR Division. Comments received during the public review period will be addressed in the final application submission.  PWORA will submit the final applications by June 1, 2020 after all public comments have been addressed.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW to be directed to the State Parks OHMVR Division for instructions on how to view and comment on the preliminary application.

OHMVR DIVISION GRANT WEBSITE

https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1164

     PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

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NEWS RELEASE - PWORA Seeking Comments for OHV Grant Applications

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 18, 2020

Contact: Don Amador, President, damador@pwora.org

               Eric Lueder, Grant Administrator, elueder@pwora.org

Phone: 925.783.1834

                                      PWORA Seeking Comments for OHV Grant Applications

     OAKLEY, CA  (Feb. 18) –  The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) is asking for public input for potential OHV grants proposals to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division for areas on the Mendocino National Forest that were impacted by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

     PWORA is considering applying for the following grants; a restoration grant to replace barriers on St.  John’s Mountain; and a ground operations grant to construct drainage improvements on the Mason Connector Trail.

     The OHMVR Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program supports well-managed off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $35 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and OHV sticker registrations. Cities, counties, districts, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities can apply for funds to develop, maintain and restore trails; provide law enforcement; and offer safety and training for riders.

     The public is invited send comments and ideas to the PWORA Grant Administrator, Eric Lueder, to provide ideas for projects and opportunities that could be incorporated into the grant applications.

Send comments Eric Lueder at: elueder@pwora.org

     Preliminary grant applications will be submitted to the OHMVR Division by March 2. The public will then be able to comment on the preliminary applications from March 3 to May 4. Final applications must be submitted by June 1. For more information about the state grant process and requirements, visit the OHMVR Division website at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov.

     PWORA is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded to protect and restore sustainable OHV recreation from the devastating effects of intense wildfires and other natural disasters. PWORA will collaborate with a diverse array of multi-interest strategic partners to mobilize volunteers and deploy resources to mitigate post-disaster impacts to recreation areas.  Website: www.pwora.org

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Volunteer Appreciation Weekend at Stonyford OHV Area – January 18-19, 2020

Volunteers at 2019 Summit Valley Post Ranch Fire Restoration Project

The Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance (PWORA) is proud to be an official partner of the volunteer appreciation event at the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest.  PWORA will be helping support the celebration including the dinner on Saturday night to honor all those who have worked hard to recover and reopen OHV trails damaged by the 2018 Ranch Fire.

See Mendocino National Forest News Release about the event below:

WILLOWS, Calif. – Nov. 21, 2019  – The Grindstone Ranger District off-highway vehicle (OHV) staff is hosting a volunteer appreciation weekend at the Fouts Campground Complex in Stonyford, Calif. January 18-19, 2020. This will be a fun-filled weekend (rain or shine) with special guests, motorcycle demonstrations and food.

The 2018 Ranch Fire burned approximately 288,000 acres on the southern portion of the Mendocino National Forest and became the largest wildfire in California history. The fire adversely impacted the entire OHV trail system on the Forest.

In 2019, numerous volunteers committed to post-fire recovery of the OHV areas and accomplished various tasks such as removing and installing new barriers to keep users on designated routes, replacing dozens of signs and trail markers, removing trees, repairing facilities, removing truckloads of rebar and brushing trails.

In addition, volunteers organized a work weekend to protect the Summit Valley Meadow from OHV intrusion and attended CPR and First Aid training to maintain chainsaw certifications. The volunteers helped restore 100s of miles of trails and contributed 1,078 hours, which surpassed our 2019 goal of 430 volunteer hours. 

Our volunteers go above and beyond to help sustain our forests to meet the needs of present and future generations. This is our opportunity to give back to our volunteers – past, present and new. Join the Grindstone Ranger District OHV staff to thank our volunteers for a job well done.

For more information about the volunteer appreciation weekend, please contact Recreation Technician Paige Makowski at 530-963-1328 or paige.makowski@usda.gov

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PWORA is looking forward to this important celebration.  Please RSVP to: damador@pwora.org

to let us know if you plan to attend and/or if you want to help sponsor the event.