In a remarkable turn of events, an inmate work crew has become the unlikely saviors of a family trapped by tornado debris in rural Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, a mother and her three children spent more than a week isolated in their home after storms ravaged the area on May 20. Pittsburg County road foreman J.B. Sharp, dealing with the aftermath of the tornado, admitted the dire situation as they worked on cleanup efforts, saying, "A tornado came through and blew down a lot of trees."
With county resources stretched to the limit and a public plea for assistance made on social media, Warden Margaret Green of Mack Alford Correctional Center observed the call for help. Green told the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, "I saw on Facebook they need help. They need manpower." Under her initiative, a crew of nearly a dozen minimum-security inmates stepped up to volunteer for the task at hand.
The work crew program at ODOC is strict, only allowing inmates who meet certain security and behavior requirements to partake in community labor. MACC’s Lt. David Easley assured the public regarding the criteria for inmates working outside the prison grounds. They "are getting close to release. They aren't going to do anything wrong to jeopardize that," Easley explained in an interview with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The swift action of the inmates significantly cut down the expected recovery time, accomplishing in hours what would have taken county crews several days.
One of the participating inmates, Brandon Boring, found redemption in the opportunity to aid the community, passionately stating, "All a man needs to do is atone, and they’ve given us a chance to do that." The sentiment of giving back resonated with the crew, described by Warden Green as "an army of orange," which worked efficiently and empathetically to provide relief to the stranded family, as mentioned on the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The efforts of these inmates have not gone unnoticed, as both authorities and community members express their gratitude. "Oh, I think they are a great help to us," Sharp acknowledged the contributions of the inmate crew. Green proudly reflected on the success of the mission, affirming, "I just feel like it was giving back to the community. The inmates felt the same way."
