I've seen some posts here and there . . . that the responders didn't get out fast enough on the first day. I have a friend that is first responder there with Sheriff's Dept. He hasn't had much sleep. Oso and Darrington are isolated communities outside of Seattle proper or other major cities. Those people lived there because they liked the "far away" and "near the river." So, on a Saturday, as you've read, the regulars were still in bed or running errands to town, and the vacationers may or may have not been there, or on the road. They were on the spot on Saturday, with all available resources! There were signs of life on Saturday, but the ground was so unstable that they could not be approached. Snohomish County didn't wait on FEMA to come in, 3 or 4 days away. They called in every available nearby resource -- other counties, from wherever they could get them that day. Even with helicopters, someone has to get on the ground to secure a possible survivor. It was quick-sand like mud and, shifting debris. For those that are critiquing, you must have no clue how catastrophic this event was, and how dangerous it was for those that went in and continue to go every day. You will likely never know how bad it has been as they go through the 20 ft. deep debris/timber piles/wrecked houses/cars/seeing family pictures and keepsakes in the mud -- you will never see what they've seen. There will be people never found, buried where they lay in the deep debris. DNA will identify others. I hope they can find some alive, but I don't think so. BUT, don't think all those people out there working have shirked their responsibilities. Not for a minute.