Sofia Martinez
On September 27, 2024, employees of Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, were trapped in the factory during flooding brought by Hurricane Helene. At least five employees died, and several others are still missing. The company has faced criticism, with employees stating that management did not allow them to leave until it was too late. Impact Plastics has denied these allegations and expressed sympathy for the affected individuals and their families. Investigations are ongoing as the company plans to resume operations in the future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | 27 September |
| Location | Erwin, Tennessee |
| Company | Impact Plastics |
| Type of incident | Flooding |
| Cause of flooding | Hurricane Helene |
| Number of deaths | At least 5 |
| Number missing | 6 |
| Company response | Denied allegations that employees were not allowed to leave |
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What You'll Learn
Employee deaths and missing persons
At least five employees of Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, died in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The deceased employees have been named as Sibrina Barnett, Monica Hernandez, Bertha Mendoza, Johnny Peterson, and Lidia Verdugo. One employee is still missing.
The flooding that caused these deaths occurred on September 27, 2024, when the swollen Nolichucky River raged around the factory. Employees clung to spools of flexible yellow plastic pipes on the back of a semi-truck for hours, waiting for help. However, the truck eventually tipped over, sweeping at least seven people away.
Impact Plastics employees have claimed that management did not allow them to leave the factory during the flooding until it was too late. One employee, Jacob Ingram, stated that he asked a senior member of staff if he could leave but was told "not yet". Another employee, Ron Kell, recalled that he "didn't hear anyone say 'leave' or nothing like that".
The company has denied these allegations. Gerald O'Connor, the founder of Impact Plastics, said, "There was time to escape. Employees were not told at any time that they would be fired if they left the plant". He added, "To our knowledge, no one perished while on company property".
A National Guard helicopter was dispatched to rescue employees, and five people were airlifted to safety.
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Management's alleged negligence
The main allegation is that management did not allow employees to leave the factory until it was too late, endangering their lives. This claim has been vehemently denied by the company, with founder and CEO Gerald O'Connor stating that employees were never told they would be fired if they left. He also asserted that there was time to escape and that he was one of the last people to leave the plant, escaping just in time.
However, multiple employees, including Jacob Ingram, have disputed the company's version of events. They claim that they were explicitly told not to leave, even after the plant lost power and floodwaters had already reached the parking lot. Ingram shared that he had to ask permission from a higher-up and was told to wait, despite the rising danger. This delay in evacuation proved fatal for some, as they were swept away by the floodwaters or trapped in the building.
Another allegation is that the company failed to adequately communicate and provide support to employees and their families following the tragedy. Ingram stated that he hadn't heard from the company and that they hadn't reached out to ensure the employees' well-being. This perceived lack of empathy and aftercare has added to the criticism of the company's handling of the situation.
While Impact Plastics has expressed sympathy for the loss of lives and stated that senior management was among the last to leave, the investigations will determine the validity of the allegations and establish any negligence or wrongdoing on the part of the company's management.
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Rescue attempts and survivor accounts
As the floodwaters rose, some employees of Impact Plastics escaped the industrial park by climbing onto a truck belonging to a neighbouring company. Unfortunately, the truck was swept away by the current and tipped over, causing at least seven people to be swept away. Five people from the truck made it to safety, while another group of employees escaped by traversing the CSX railroad tracks behind the facility.
A National Guard helicopter was dispatched and rescued five employees who were airlifted to safety. Helicopters were also seen rescuing people trapped on the roof of the nearby Unicoi County Hospital.
Several employees and their families have disputed the company's account of the incident, stating that management did not allow them to leave the facility sooner. One employee, Jacob Ingram, said that he asked a senior member of staff if he could leave, to which they replied, "not yet". Another employee, Ron Kell, said that he saw his colleague being swept away by the floodwaters.
The company has denied these allegations, stating that employees were never told they would be fired if they left the facility and that there was time to escape. The company's founder, Gerald O'Connor, expressed profound grief over the deaths and said that senior management was among the last to leave the building.
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Company's response and investigations
In the aftermath of the flooding, Impact Plastics released a statement expressing sympathy for the missing and deceased employees and a contractor during the floods. The company's founder and CEO, Gerald O'Connor, said, "We are devastated by the tragic loss of great employees. Those who are missing or deceased, and their families are in our thoughts and prayers." The company also stated that it monitored weather conditions and dismissed employees when the facility lost power and water began to cover the parking lot.
However, these statements contradict the accounts of several employees, who claimed that they were not allowed to leave sooner, even after the plant lost power. One employee, Jacob Ingram, recalled asking a superior for permission to leave and being told, "no, not yet." Another employee, Ron Kell, shared that he sent his employees home while also assisting in the rescue efforts at Impact Plastics.
Impact Plastics has faced scrutiny for its handling of the situation, with employees stating that the company did not reach out to them after the incident. In response to these allegations, O'Connor released a video statement, denying that employees were ever told they would be fired if they left the plant. He asserted that there was time to escape and that he was among the last people to leave the plant.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration are conducting investigations into the incident, and the company is cooperating with these inquiries. The company is also organizing a recovery center to aid current employees and provide information on benefits and local job opportunities.
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![Accident [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81gZO9PuKjL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Flood impact on nearby areas
Flooding in Erwin, Tennessee, caused by Hurricane Helene, led to the deaths of at least five Impact Plastics employees, with one employee still missing. The flooding also impacted nearby Unicoi County Hospital, where 54 staff and patients were stranded on the roof and had to be rescued by helicopter.
The flooding at Impact Plastics occurred when the swollen Nolichucky River raged around the factory, causing the plant to lose power. Employees have stated that management did not allow them to leave the factory during the flooding until it was too late, with some employees having to escape by traversing CSX railroad tracks behind the facility or by utilising a truck belonging to a neighbouring company. However, this truck tipped over, leading to the disappearance of five employees and a contractor, with five others on the truck making it to safety.
The impact of the flooding on nearby areas was significant. Unicoi County, where the Impact Plastics factory is located, saw three deaths and substantial damage. The flooding also affected other towns in East Tennessee, with dozens of towns submerged, including the town of Erwin, which experienced road closures due to the high water levels.
The Tennessee Valley Authority warned of the potential for life-threatening flooding downstream if the Nolichucky Dam were to breach, which fortunately did not occur. However, the impact of the flooding on downstream areas is unclear.
The flooding at Impact Plastics and the surrounding areas has led to investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration into the handling of the situation. The company has faced criticism and allegations that their response to the flooding was inadequate and put employees at risk.
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Frequently asked questions
The Impact Plastics factory in Erwin, Tennessee was hit by flooding after Hurricane Helene made landfall in September 2024. The factory was inundated with floodwaters, and several employees lost their lives.
The swollen Nolichucky River caused by Hurricane Helene's heavy rainfall inundated the factory and the surrounding areas.
Several employees of Impact Plastics died in the floods, and some are still missing. Employees have claimed that management did not allow them to leave until it was too late, which led to the tragic outcome. The company has denied these allegations. Rescue operations were carried out, and some employees were evacuated to safety.
