North Carolina Department of Correction news release

MARCH 23, 1998

Dan River Prison Farm sends work crews to clean up after tornadoes

STONEVILLE - As clean-up of the devastation caused by Friday’s tornadoes begins, the Dan River Prison Work Farm has 40 inmates working today in the hardest hit areas of Rockingham County.

"Gov. Hunt directed the department to put prisoners to work helping these communities," said Correction Secretary Mack Jarvis. "We’re working with county and state emergency officials to put work crews where they can help."

Prison managers received the call from emergency officials last night to provide prisoners for the clean-up effort. Today the prisoners are boarding up windows and putting up plastic to protect buildings in Stoneville that survived the storms.

Dan River Prison Superintendent Wayne Moore led correctional staff and their work crews into Stoneville today. "A lot of the buildings have been totally destroyed," Moore said. "Others have windows blown out and sections of roofing gone. Windows and doors are missing."

Arrangements are being made to provide all of Dan River Prison’s 15 work squads to assist in clean up efforts beginning tomorrow. The crews will be working in Mayodan and other nearby areas severely damaged by the storms.

"There’s enough work to keep the squads busy for some time to come," Moore said.

Dan River Prison Work Farm is an adult male minimum security prison in Yanceyville. It houses 625 prisoners.

-bp-