Jamestown  (KFYR) Many in Jamestown are helping out with sandbagging as flooding threatens the city, including those paying off debts to society.

State leaders say James River Correction​al Center inmates filled and stacked 26,000 sandbags.

135 inmates helped Friday and 78 helped Saturday. The operation took about 13 hours.

Some JRCC staff also helped shovel sand, while other made sure operations ran smoothly.

“Although the residents may have made some poor choices that resulted in incarceration, this is a great example of how they are changing and making great choices,” said Connie Hackman, JRCC deputy warden. “We are very proud of their hard work and effort.”

14 residents from the James River Minimum Unit also helped fill sandbags and 30 helped lay them where needed.