Omar Khalid
Impact Plastics, a Unicoi County-based company in Erwin, Tennessee, is currently at the centre of a media storm following a devastating flood that hit its facility on September 27, 2024. The flood, caused by Hurricane Helene, resulted in the deaths and disappearances of several employees. The company is now facing intense scrutiny as allegations emerge that employees were forced to stay at the facility as the floodwaters rose, with owners accused of lying about their response to the disaster. With investigations underway by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the question of who owns Impact Plastics is under the spotlight.
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What You'll Learn
Gerald O'Connor is the President and CEO
On September 27, 2024, Impact Plastics experienced severe flooding due to Hurricane Helene, which resulted in tragic consequences. The floodwaters inundated the parking lot and adjacent areas, and the plant eventually lost power. O'Connor, as CEO, took responsibility for communicating with the public and managing the aftermath of the flood.
In the wake of the flood, O'Connor released a preliminary internal review and a video statement. In his statement, he expressed sympathy for the impacted employees and their families, saying, "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." He also addressed allegations and provided a detailed timeline of events, clarifying that employees were instructed to leave the premises within minutes of the power outage.
O'Connor acknowledged the company's cooperation with the ongoing investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA). He emphasized that Impact Plastics would assist the investigations fully while refraining from making further public comments until their conclusion.
Despite O'Connor's efforts, some employees, including Robert Jarvis, have disputed the company's version of events. Jarvis and other employees claimed they were told to stay at the facility as the flooding began and that they did not receive timely instructions to evacuate. These conflicting accounts have fueled investigations and public scrutiny of Impact Plastics' handling of the situation.
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Flooding at the Riverview Industrial Park
On September 27, 2024, flooding at the Riverview Industrial Park in Erwin, Tennessee, caused by Hurricane Helene, led to the deaths and disappearances of several Impact Plastics employees. The Unicoi County-based company is now under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA).
Impact Plastics' parking lot is situated in a low-lying area between South Industrial Drive and the plant building. On the day of the flood, water began to pool in the parking lot at around 10:35 AM, which is not an unusual occurrence. However, public warnings were sent out via cell phones at approximately 10:40 AM, coinciding with a power outage a minute earlier. The plant was shut down within minutes, and all employees were asked to leave the premises by 10:50 AM at the latest.
A review of video footage and photographs revealed that a group of employees who left the building remained on South Industrial Drive for about 45 minutes after the plant's closure. This group has since been either rescued or reported missing or deceased. According to Impact Plastics, no one was ever trapped inside the building or on its premises. The water level in the parking lot was estimated to be around six inches deep, based on the water marks on small passenger cars.
The floodwaters caused extensive damage to the Riverview Industrial Park, destroying roadways and infrastructure. Local officials and the Economic Development Board director are working with state partners to secure funding for reconstruction and create a timeline for the projects. Businesses in the park are conducting engineering assessments and cleanup efforts, with the intention of returning once the necessary repairs have been made.
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Employees were told to stay or leave
On September 27, 2024, floodwaters from Hurricane Helene swept through Impact Plastics, a Unicoi County-based company in Erwin, Tennessee, resulting in the deaths of several employees. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) are investigating the incident.
There are conflicting reports regarding the instructions given to employees during the flood. While Impact Plastics owners claim they told employees to leave, some workers, including Robert Jarvis, dispute this, stating that they were told to stay even as the area began to flood. Jarvis recounted that by the time they were permitted to leave, the parking lot was already inundated, leaving them stranded. He emphasized that the company shouldn't have been operating that day, expressing his desire for accountability and justice.
Jacob Ingram, another Impact Plastics employee, shared that they had approximately 15 minutes from when they were instructed to depart before the floodwaters started to rise. He described holding onto a semi-truck for hours, eventually using plastic gas piping as a flotation device. Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, another employee, remains missing, leaving her family with unanswered questions.
In response to the allegations, Impact Plastics CEO Gerald O'Connor released a video statement and a preliminary internal review of the events. O'Connor asserted that employees were instructed to leave at least 45 minutes before the flood hit, emphasizing that there was ample time to escape. He also mentioned that written evacuation plans were posted in conspicuous areas of the plant prior to the incident.
The conflicting accounts of employees being told to stay or leave highlight the complexities of the situation. While investigations are ongoing, the impact of the flood on the employees and their families cannot be understated, underscoring the importance of accountability and proactive safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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Investigations by TBI and TOSHA
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) are investigating Impact Plastics following a flood at its facility in Erwin, Tennessee, on September 27, 2024. Impact Plastics, a Unicoi County-based company, claimed some employees disappeared or died when flooding from Hurricane Helene hit its building.
TBI and TOSHA are looking into the circumstances surrounding the flood and the subsequent evacuation of the Impact Plastics facility. The company has released a preliminary internal review, including a video statement from CEO Gerald O'Connor, who said that employees were told to leave at least 45 minutes before the flood hit and that there was time to escape. O'Connor also stated that the company would cooperate fully with the investigations.
The review provided a timeline of events, indicating that water began to pool in the parking lot at around 10:35 AM, and public warnings were sent out via cell phones at approximately 10:40 AM. A power outage occurred at 10:39 AM, and a decision was made within minutes to shut down the plant and dismiss all employees. Employees were directed to leave the property by 10:50 AM, and bilingual employees provided translations in Spanish.
However, recorded video footage and photographs have identified employees who left the property but remained on South Industrial Drive for approximately 45 minutes after the plant's closure. This group has since been either rescued or reported as missing or deceased. The review also indicated that South Industrial Drive in front of the plant appeared passable, and the water in the parking lot was approximately six inches deep. Impact Plastics stated that, to their knowledge, no one was trapped in the building or on its premises.
The investigations by TBI and TOSHA are ongoing, and no further details have been released to the public at this time. The TBI is a state-level law enforcement agency in Tennessee, with field offices in various locations, including Memphis, Cookeville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. TOSHA, on the other hand, is focused on improving workplace safety and health through enforcement of standards and regulations. They provide assistance to employers to achieve safe workplaces and reduce hazards.
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Impact Plastics' future commitments
Impact Plastics, a Unicoi County-based company in Erwin, Tennessee, is currently facing scrutiny and legal action following the tragic events of September 27, 2024, when flooding from Hurricane Helene affected its building.
The company is accused of negligence, with some employees claiming they were told to stay at the facility as the flooding began. As a result, some employees were trapped, and unfortunately, there were fatalities. The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) are investigating the incident.
Future Commitments
In the aftermath of the tragic events, Impact Plastics has expressed sympathy for the impacted employees and their families. Gerald O'Connor, the company's founder and CEO, stated that they are "devastated by the tragic loss of great employees" and that those affected are in their "thoughts and prayers".
Impact Plastics has committed to assisting its employees and helping them access the necessary resources to cope with the aftermath of the flood. The company is cooperating with the ongoing investigations by TOSHA and TBI and has released a preliminary internal review of the events, along with a video statement from O'Connor.
The company has also provided a detailed timeline of the events of September 27, noting that there had been no flooding alert or warning when the first shift began at 7:00 AM. They mentioned that written evacuation plans were posted in conspicuous areas of the plant months before the incident.
Impact Plastics acknowledges the allegations circulated on social media that employees were told not to leave by their supervisors. However, they emphasize that, to their knowledge, no one was trapped in the building or on its premises. The company is committed to working with the relevant authorities to determine the facts and take any necessary corrective actions.
Additionally, Impact Plastics has received death threats following the flood, according to O'Connor. As a result, he prepared a video statement, and the company will not be making any further public comments until the investigations by TBI and TOSHA are complete.
The company's future commitments include continuing to assist affected employees, cooperating with investigations, and implementing any recommended safety measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. Impact Plastics is also likely to focus on recovering from the damage caused by the flood and ensuring the resilience of its operations moving forward.
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Frequently asked questions
Gerald O'Connor is the President and CEO of Impact Plastics.
Impact Plastics is under scrutiny after some employees were trapped and killed during flooding brought by Hurricane Helene. The company is being investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA).
Gerald O'Connor released a preliminary internal review of events and a video statement. He said, "Employees were told to leave the plant at least 45 minutes before the gigantic force of the flood hit the industrial park. There was time to escape."
Employees have said that the owners are lying and that they were told to stay at the facility as the area began to flood. Robert Jarvis said, "I wish he would take some accountability for his actions because we shouldn't have been there that day at all."
