The devastating flooding in East Tennessee caused by Hurricane Helene has brought heartbreak to the Impact Plastics factory in Erwin. Workers found themselves in a desperate situation on September 27, clinging to a semitruck as floodwaters surged around them. Tragically, at least five employees lost their lives when the Nolichucky River swelled beyond control, and one worker remains missing.
Impact Plastics, Tennessee… 😔 pic.twitter.com/j4QK27ahc6
— JoCanada™ ✝️🍁🇨🇦🚑 (@NewellMartell) October 4, 2024
The company’s founder and CEO, Gerald O’Connor, expressed his sorrow, calling the loss “devastating” and stating that the workers who died will remain in their hearts. However, questions have arisen over the company’s response as workers allege they were not allowed to leave early enough to avoid the disaster. Jacob Ingram, an employee, stated that they were told to move their cars, not to evacuate, leading to confusion and panic when the water rose
Employees of Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee were told to stay and work while their executives left.
Now the CEO is saying they have missing and deceased employees and is denying that they told employees that they had to work.
Shameful.pic.twitter.com/87DRXFFenA
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) September 30, 2024
Impact Plastics is now under investigation by multiple state agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA). These investigations will determine if proper safety protocols were followed and if there were any violations in how the factory handled the emergency. O’Connor, however, has maintained that employees were informed to leave 45 minutes before the floodwaters arrived, a claim some survivors dispute.
Six workers at Impact Plastics lost their lives in the recent Tennessee floods. When you call people "human resources" it's a quick slide down to treating them like equipment. Death toll for Hurricane Helene passes 100. #PeopleOverProfit #WorkersSafety #NCFlooding #ImpactPlastics pic.twitter.com/2SoAPNKx07
— Asbestos Claims (@ClaimsAsbestos) October 1, 2024
The factory, known for its production of plastic components for various industries, has faced safety concerns in the past. TOSHA has cited the company multiple times, with the most recent investigation in 2010 revealing several serious violations. The ongoing probe will likely take these past issues into account as authorities search for answers.
For the families of the victims, this has been a deeply personal tragedy. The missing worker, Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, is still being searched for by authorities, with hopes that she may still be found. As the community continues to deal with the aftermath, many are left wondering if this terrible loss could have been avoided.
