Tennessee authorities are investigating Impact Plastics after 11 workers were swept away by the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The Nolichucky River, swollen from intense rainfall, overwhelmed the small town of Erwin, where the factory is located. Despite warnings and worsening conditions, some workers claimed they were not permitted to leave the facility until it was too late. Tragically, only five of the 11 workers have been rescued. Two are confirmed dead, and four remain missing.
Criminal and Workplace Investigations Begin
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has launched a probe to determine if any criminal violations occurred, per District Attorney Steven R. Finney’s request. Concurrently, the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) is conducting its own investigation into potential workplace safety violations, as Impact Plastics had not reported any fatalities within the mandated eight-hour timeframe.
Workers have shared harrowing accounts of their experience during the flooding. Some were able to escape in their vehicles, while others were caught on roads submerged by rising water. Jacob Ingram, one of the survivors, posted videos of the chaos and the subsequent helicopter rescue. He criticized the factory’s decision to delay evacuation, stating that they should have been allowed to leave when the flood warnings were issued. For more coverage on this story, visit wjtv.
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Calls for Accountability
As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, calls for accountability grow louder. Many believe that proper evacuation measures could have prevented the loss of life. Impact Plastics has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and vowed to cooperate with the investigation, but for many, the question remains: could these deaths have been avoided?