Horizon

Flood-Impacted Residents in Eureka, Pacific Assisted by MECC Offenders

Inmates assisting with sandbags  Inmates assisting with sandbags  Inmates assisting with sandbags  Inmates assisting with sandbags 
Inmates assisting with cleanup  Inmates assisting with cleanup  Inmates assisting with cleanup  Inmates assisting with cleanup 

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Responding to requests from Eureka and Pacific officials, Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) Warden Larry Rowley dispatched about 50 offenders Monday, March 24 for sandbagging operations and cleanup. Flooding from the Meramec River has impacted many residents in the two communities.

"MECC has a partnership with Pacific and Eureka," Rowley told the Horizon. "We are pleased to assist our neighbors in this time of need, and we’ve prepared ourselves for such events."

Warden Rowley is coordinating sandbagging and cleanup efforts with Pacific Mayor Herb Adams and City Administrator Harold Selby, and with Eureka Mayor Kevin Coffie and Police Chief Mike Wiegand. Some of the 50 offenders have been collecting sand bags and moving them to a remote location in Pacific, while others are focusing on cleanup for homes and businesses.

"I'm proud of our staff and the offenders who are doing this," Rowley said. "Our ten staff members are supervising the offenders. The offenders who are participating are receiving no pay for this, and they're doing back-breaking work. All of these offenders are cleared to work outside the institution, and we're taking all security precautions. I anticipate we'll receive additional requests this week."

Citing safety concerns, Rowley cancelled offender visitation during Easter weekend. On Friday, there was no longer access to MECC from old Highway 66 from the west or the Pacific side of the Meramec River. Rowley met Friday with FEMA, Pacific and Eureka officials, and they requested cleanup help. Rowley and Missouri Department of Corrections Director Larry Crawford approved that request.

The flooding in Pacific has received national and statewide media attention. There are numerous television satellite trucks parked in Pacific, Eureka and Valley Park. Several television crews videotaped MECC offenders Monday doing sandbagging work, and Warden Rowley and Deputy Warden Jennifer Sachse briefed the news media. Rowley also was interviewed on-camera by Fox-2 KTVI News in St. Louis.

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