McALESTER – A mother and her three children are safe after spending more than a week trapped in their rural home, thanks to an Oklahoma Department of Corrections inmate work crew that cleared the tornado debris blocking their escape route.

“A tornado came through and blew down a lot of trees,” said J.B. Sharp, a Pittsburg County road foreman. “We are trying to do a cleanup job.”

The family, who lives in a remote part of the county hit hard by storms on May 20, was unable to leave their property due to numerous downed trees. With county crews stretched thin, officials turned to social media to request help.

Mack Alford Correctional Center Warden Margaret Green saw the plea and responded.

“I saw on Facebook that they need help. They need manpower,” Green said. “I thought, let me see if I can get a work crew.”

Nearly a dozen minimum- security inmates quickly volunteered to assist.

“All a man needs to do is atone, and they’ve given us a chance to do that,” said inmate Brandon Boring. “If you let a man atone, we can actually go back and be great members of society.”

ODOC only allows inmates who meet specific security and behavior standards to participate in community work programs. Inmates are under constant supervision while working outside facility grounds.

“There is a criteria they have to meet to get to work out in the public,” said MACC Lt. David Easley. “They are getting close to release. They aren’t going to do anything wrong to jeopardize that.”

According to officials, it would have taken county crews several days to reach the family. The Mack Alford inmates completed the task in just a few hours.

“They just cleared a path to a house, and the lady hasn’t been out since last Monday,” Green said. “I just feel like it was giving back to the community. The inmates felt the same way. It’s an army of orange. This one little section we’ve been watching – I’m really proud.”

The men remain motivated to help, even as cleanup efforts continue.

“Oh, I think they are a great help to us,” Sharp said. “We are highly appreciative for them to come help us.”

Inmate Boring echoed that sentiment: “If it gives back to the community, man, I love it.”

ODOC’s work crew program supports public infrastructure and community recovery efforts across Oklahoma while offering inmates meaningful opportunities to give back and rebuild their lives.