Tropical Storm Helene caused floods at two prisons in western North Carolina on Monday, so the prisoners had to leave.
400 prisoners from the Western Correctional Centre for Women in Swannanoa and the Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Centre for Women in Black Mountain were moved by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC).
The choice to evacuate was made because it was thought that it would take a long time to get water and power back to these facilities.
By early evening, all of the prisoners had been safely moved to other women’s prisons.
Friends and family are told not to call the jails to find out what’s going on.
When prisoners are moved to new places, they will be able to make phone calls.
Within 24 hours, the online Offender Locator will be updated to show temporary housing placements.