Oklahoma inmates clear debris to rescue family trapped after May 19 tornadoes
Inmates from Mack Alford Correctional Center helped free a family stuck for over a week in rural Blanco.
More than a week after a tornado outbreak ransacked parts of Oklahoma, a family stranded on their rural property was finally sent on their way, in part thanks to a cleanup crew made up of inmates. A woman and her three kids had been stranded in their home in Blanco when trees fell from one of the approximately dozen tornadoes that struck on May 19.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said the inmates, all from the Mack Alford Correctional Center, worked for days to cut a path. The emergency response came after county officials asked for help on social media, which prompted the warden to put together a volunteer crew.
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Inmate crew responds to storm damage
Supervised by staff and accepted due to significant evaluations of security level and behavior, the team consisted of nearly twelve minimum-security inmates, Warden Margaret Green stated she put the crew together after noticing Pittsburg County road crews were overwhelmed.
The crew worked with local workers to remove downed trees obstructing access to a family's home. Road foreman J.B. Sharp called the inmates "a great help" and said the combined effort turned a very important corner in getting to the property affected.
Giving back to the community
Warden Green emphasized the inmates’ willingness to help, saying many of them viewed the work as a way to give back. “It’s an army of orange,” she said, referring to the bright uniforms worn by the crew.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections highlighted how supervised inmate labor can benefit both communities and incarcerated individuals. The cleanup not only provided relief to storm victims but also gave inmates a sense of purpose and contribution during a time of crisis
