Horizon

River Towns Receive Sandbagging Assistance from Missouri Prisoners

Hannibal Community Supervision Center (CSC) residents Fred Smith and Anthony Essig (standing with shovel) volunteered to sandbag near the Mississippi River  Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) dispatched 56 prisoners to Clarksville and Canton. These WERDCC offenders are sandbagging in Clarksville to hold off the Mississippi River. 
Click on the image to enlarge.

The Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) responded promptly to Acting Governor Peter Kinder’s request this past weekend for volunteers to help sandbag in Mississippi River towns threatened by flooding. The Department has 186 prisoners sandbagging in northeast Missouri, as of June 17, 2008.

"The institutions came through very quickly," Department Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Michelle Kasak told the Horizon. "The Wardens and everyone at DAI (the Division of Adult Institutions) were eager to help. It's run smoothly."

Forecasters say areas like Clarksville will see a crest higher than any crest in city history. Part of Clarksville is already under water. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said predicted river crests in many points are expected to be within inches of records set in 1993. The Department currently has 91 prisoners sandbagging in Clarksville. 41 are in Canton, 24 are in Louisiana and 23 are sandbagging in the South River Drainage District in Marion County. The prisoners are accompanied by corrections officers.

"Sandbagging provides an opportunity for eligible offenders to make a positive contribution to society, and at the same time it provides needed assistance to Missouri communities impacted by rising flood waters," DAI Director Tom Clements told the Horizon.

Women's Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) in Vandalia has dispatched 56 prisoners, while Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (ERDCC) has dispatched 45 prisoners. Algoa Correctional Center (ACC) in Jefferson City, Boonville Correctional Center (BCC), Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (FRDC), Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) in Pacific, Moberly Correctional Center (MCC) and St. Louis Community Release Center (SLCRC) have also sent prisoners. Clements notes the offenders who are sandbagging volunteer for the duty and are carefully screened. He adds the offenders are close to their release date.

The flooding in northeast Missouri follows flooding in Iowa, where five people have been killed and another 40,000 have been displaced or evacuated.

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