Inmates from the Arkansas Department of Corrections Varner Unit shoveled through 4 loads of sand all day to create sandbags for Dumas residents Wednesday.
The sand was distributed and transported by the Dumas Fire Department.
Dumas Fire Chief David Byrd said it's the inmates' labor that's helping residents at the moment, and it shouldn't go unnoticed.
"We have been giving them out to people that come over here to get it. Plus, for the elderly people that couldn't get out, we took the sandbags to them and to their homes," said Byrd.
A state of emergency has been declared for Desha County.
The County Judge gave three bags of sand and the mayor one for the inmates to shovel through.
"We're going to try to get FEMA involved because the insurance companies are not going to pay for this," said Byrd.