Due to the heavy rains we received recently, the roof of the
Cortland County Jail began to leak excessively during the early morning hours
of January 24, 2019. As the rain
continued, so did the number of leaks throughout the jail. At approximately 8 a.m., the water came into
the jail dorm area in amounts enough to cover portions of the floor to the
point it was decided to evacuate the inmates from that area.
As the morning progressed, the rain continued to fall and
leaks in the roof continued in many areas of the jail. Members of the Cortland County Buildings and
Grounds Department worked diligently to stop the water from entering the jail,
but they were unable to control all the leaks.
It was because of safety concerns for the inmates and staff
that the majority of the inmates from the jail were evacuated to other county
jails for temporary housing. The evacuation went extremely well and at no time
were any inmates in any danger. The
inmates currently being housed out have been relocated to three different
surrounding county jails.
The jail will be continuing to do business as usual when
dealing with arrest and confinement, however very few inmates will be allowed
to be housed locally until all aspects of the rain damage are repaired.
Anyone interested in finding out where a friend or family
member is currently being housed can call (607)756-4275 for more
information. Officers will be available
to assist the public with answering questions regarding inmate locations.
At this time, the extent of the water damage in the jail is
unknown.
