CCA Provides Rapid Response to Adams County
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation’s largest provider of corrections management services to federal, state and local government agencies, successfully provided emergency assistance to the Adams County (Miss.) Emergency Management Agency (ACEMA) during Hurricane Gustav earlier this month.
Dennis Werner, a member of CCA’s Facility Activation Team, and Stan Owens, executive director of ACEMA in Natchez, Miss., coordinated the joint effort, which included storing supplies at the company’s Adams County Correctional Center, which is currently under development.
“With CCA, communities come first,” said Werner, who, as a member of the company’s Facility Activation Team, was on the ground in the Natchez area overseeing planning and logistics for CCA’s under-construction correctional facility. “CCA is always here to help in any way.”
CCA and the Adams County Emergency Management Agency stored water, blankets, food, cots and cleaning kits in the warehouse from September 2-5.
Werner credited Owens and his staff, along with Flintco (the general contractor for the Adams County Correctional Center project), the Adams County Red Cross and the Mississippi Gaming Commission in making the emergency warehousing effort a success.
“Working with Stan Owens for the first time was remarkable,” Werner said. “Stan showed great leadership and compassion for the community of Adams County.”
Owens said that CCA’s available space and team-oriented professionals offered convenience and competence during a stressful and challenging time.
“CCA was able to provide a place for the Mississippi Gaming Commission’s personnel to shelter the supplies, and that took a load off of our already taxed resources,” Owens said, adding no other government or private facilities were used.
Owens said CCA’s assistance was particularly helpful given the fact Hurricane Gustav left Adams County 100 percent “blacked out” for more than 24 hours. Some residences did not see their power restored for more than four days.
About CCA
CCA is the founder and industry leader of the private corrections management industry, representing the nation’s fifth-largest corrections system, behind the federal government and three states. CCA currently operates 66 facilities, including 42 that are company-owned, with a total design capacity of approximately 82,000 beds in 19 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 17,000 employees who provide comprehensive educational, vocational, therapeutic and addictions treatment programs intended to prepare inmates for successful re-integration with society.