The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction today evacuated more than 800 men incarcerated at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institution in Spruce Pine.
NCDAC began the evacuation operation Tuesday morning, and the last buses arrived at their new locations Tuesday night. The evacuation became necessary due to long timeframes for water and power restoration at the prison.
NCDAC transferred 841 male offenders from Avery-Mitchell CI to seven different prisons today:
- Scotland Correctional Institution--Laurinburg
- Tabor Correctional Institution—Tabor City
- Nash Correctional Institution—Nashville
- Eastern Correctional Institution—Maury
- Southern Correctional Institution—Troy
- Maury Correctional Institution—Maury
- Harnett Correctional Institution—Lillington.
All offenders in storm-impacted prisons are safe, and NCDAC is taking appropriate steps to ensure continued health and safety of all staff and offenders. Family and friends are asked not to call the prisons to check on a loved one. Relocated offenders will be able to make phone calls after they arrive at their destinations. The NCDAC Offender Locator will be updated within 24 hours to indicate where individuals are temporarily rehoused.
On Monday, NCDAC evacuated just over 400 female offenders from Western Correctional Center for Women in Swannanoa and Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women to:
- Anson Correctional Institution—Polkton
- N.C. Correctional Institution for Women—Raleigh
- North Piedmont Confinement in Response to Violation Center—Lexington.
The duration of all relocations will depend on the time required restore water and power.
For more information on NCDAC actions in response to Hurricane Helene, visit dac.nc.gov/helene.