State sending inmates to help sandbagging effort

July 5, 2014 at 4:45 a.m. | Updated July 5, 2014 at 4:45 a.m.

Andrew Coleman, left, of Vancouver, Wash., and a member of AmeriCorps, keeps cool as he helps fill sandbags to protect businesses in downtown Clarksville, Mo. Thursday, July 3, 2014, as Mississippi River floodwater threatens the town. The river is nearly 6 feet above flood stage in Clarksville and is expected to rise another 3 feet by Tuesday. The St. Louis branch of AmeriCorps sent 13 workers to help as floodwater threatens the town. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Robert Cohen)
Andrew Coleman, left, of Vancouver, Wash., and a member of AmeriCorps, keeps cool as he helps fill sandbags to protect businesses in downtown Clarksville, Mo. Thursday, July 3, 2014, as Mississippi River floodwater threatens the town. The river is nearly 6 feet above flood stage in Clarksville and is expected to rise another 3 feet by Tuesday. The St. Louis branch of AmeriCorps sent 13 workers to help as floodwater threatens the town. (AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Robert Cohen)

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. (AP) - Missouri is beefing up its response to flooding on the Mississippi River by sending 50 Department of Corrections inmates to Clarksville to help with sandbagging in the historic downtown area.

A news release sent out Friday afternoon by the Missouri Department of Public Safety says the prisoners will arrive Saturday and work alongside members of the Missouri Governor's Faith-Based and Community Service Partnership for Disaster Recovery.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol also is providing additional officers and other assistance in the area.

The river is expected to crest next week in Clarksville, which is 75 miles north of St. Louis.

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