DOC Inmate Work Crews Pitch In During Flooding, Heavy Snowfall

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   January 09 , 2009

Inmate work crews led by the Department of Corrections are assisting emergency crews across the state amid flooding and heavy snowfall.

From filling and stacking sandbags in Western Washington to shoveling record-setting snowfall in Eastern Washington, DOC staff members and inmates are working alongside community members.

“This is something our staff and inmates enjoy doing,” Secretary Eldon Vail said. “Our staff members get to help their neighbors during an emergency, and inmates line up for the opportunity to give back to the community. This is good for everybody.”

Inmate crews on both sides of the Cascades are assisting with emergency crews:

    • Snohomish County: Inmate work crews from Monroe Correctional Complex have been in the community since Wednesday filling sandbags and providing them to residents. Crews have worked with Stanwood and Snohomish County fire departments to help prevent flooding. Another crew is assisting with flooding in Arlington.
    • Spokane: Inmates from Airway Heights Corrections Center and Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women are helping uncover buildings that were buried under snow. Airway Heights has three crews working in Cheney and three others clearing a school in Spangle. Offenders under community supervision and their DOC officers are clearing sidewalks for elderly and homebound residents and digging out schools and community centers.
    • Thurston County: Three inmate crews from Cedar Creek Corrections Center are in the community helping fill sandbags for community members to pick up. The staff members and inmates filled sandbags for about 13 hours Wednesday and about 10 hours Thursday. Inmates at Cedar Creek have filled an additional 300 sandbags that are available to residents.
    • Walla Walla: Inmates at Washington State Penitentiary prepared about 16,000 sandbags that are available to the community. It also has inmate works crews on standby to assist during the winter storm.
    • Pacific coast: Olympic Corrections Center near Forks has inmate work crews on standby to assist with flooding along the coast.

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Contact:  Chad Lewis, Communications Department (360) 725-8817


 

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