Southern Regional Jail inmates are bringing flood relief to residents of Wyoming and Summers counties.
As many as 16 inmates are working with this Summers County city's volunteer fire department to help clear out basements, homes and buildings damaged by last month's floods. Up to nine prisoners have aided relief efforts in Wyoming County.
Usually, inmates help with trash pickup in counties requesting assistance, said Lt. Larry Bunting, the facility's chief correctional officer. But the counties instead asked for aid for their residents after severe flooding prompted Gov. Bob Wise to declare a state of emergency in Summers, Wyoming and 30 other counties.
"We will not send anyone out there that could be a threat to the community,'' Bunting said. "These people show they're trustworthy. They'll be getting out in a short while.''
Inmates sent to the communities are scheduled for release in about 90 days.