Any port in a storm

The DC metro area is digging out from underneath 25-32 inches of heavy snow and we need extra arms.  So here is the solution.


Posted at 12:51 PM ET, 02/ 7/2010

Montgomery, Loudoun schools closed until Wednesday; hotels fill up as outages force out residents

12:51 p.m.: Another tool in region's snow-removal kit: inmates
Think you just spotted some D.C. Department of Corrections inmates shoveling the sidewalk outside that Metro station? Some prisoners from Alexandria clearing snow away from that fire hydrant?
Your eyes didn't deceive you. The District Department of Transportation has a memorandum of understanding with their counterparts at the Department of Corrections that allows them to tap inmates to clear snow and ice on a periodic basis. The inmates get $7.50 an hour, and DDOT picks up the tab of the guards assigned to watch them, according to that memorandum.
Alexandria has a similar program. Right now, a crew of 11 inmates is out clearing snow, said Tony Castrilli, a city spokesman. "They would normally be picking up trash or cleaning up rec centers," he said. "Just another way to help clear the streets for this historic snowstorm."
Castrilli said the inmates have to meet specific criteria to be eligible for the work program; they cannot be violent felons, he said. -- Matt Zapatosky