By Redaccion
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As Hurricane Helene’s relentless rain battered rural Tennessee, workers at a plastics factory in Erwin continued their shift, unaware of the looming danger.
The plant remained operational until the parking lot began to flood, and a power outage finally prompted management to send workers home. But by then, the rising waters had already set a deadly course in motion.
A total of 11 workers were swept away by the raging floodwaters on Friday, and only five were rescued. Among the rescued, two have been confirmed dead, adding to the overall death toll from the hurricane, which has surpassed 150 across affected states as of Tuesday. Four others remain unaccounted for.
The small town of Erwin, located near the Nolichucky River, became a focal point of rescue efforts over the weekend. Flooding from the river inundated streets and even reached the doors of Impact Plastics, the factory where the workers were trapped. As the disaster unfolded, videos surfaced showing rescue helicopters lifting people from rooftops, including patients at a local hospital.
One such video was filmed by Jacob Ingram, a mold changer at Impact Plastics. Stranded with four coworkers, Ingram documented their harrowing experience as floodwaters submerged cars and surrounded their makeshift refuge. The footage, later posted on Facebook, depicted the brown, churning waters of the Nolichucky, with a caption that read, “Just wanna say I’m lucky to be alive.”
In one of the videos, Ingram can be seen looking down at the camera, a Tennessee National Guard helicopter hovering above. The helicopter crew successfully hoisted each worker to safety, as bystanders watched with bated breath. Despite the efforts of the rescue team, the day had already taken a tragic turn.
Impact Plastics released a statement on Monday addressing the incident, stating that managers had been “monitoring weather conditions” and dismissed employees only after “water began to cover the parking lot and the adjacent service road, and the plant lost power.” However, workers who were on-site have since disputed this claim, alleging that they were instructed to stay until it was too late.
Robert Jarvis, another employee, shared his story with local news outlet News 5 WCYB, expressing his frustration with the company’s response. Jarvis claimed he tried to escape in his car, but the rapidly rising floodwaters rendered the road impassable for anything other than off-road vehicles.
“They should’ve evacuated when we got the flash flood warnings, and when they saw the parking lot,” Ingram told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “We asked them if we should evacuate, and they told us not yet, it wasn’t bad enough.”
As the water surged higher, Jarvis and several others found temporary refuge on the back of a truck driven by a passerby. Their relief was short-lived, however, as the vehicle tipped over after being struck by debris. Ingram described how he clung to plastic pipes from the overturned truck, floating with his coworkers for nearly half a mile before reaching safety atop a pile of sturdy debris.
On Tuesday, Impact Plastics stated that they did not have any further updates regarding the situation. Gerald O’Connor, founder of the company, expressed his condolences: “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.”
As the aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to unfold, search and rescue operations remain underway across multiple states. Survivors are facing an uphill battle as they seek shelter, running water, electricity, and food amidst the chaos. The hurricane’s death toll has continued to rise, and those affected are bracing for ongoing challenges, including disruptions to essential services such as voting.
Two of the deceased workers at the Tennessee factory have been identified as Mexican citizens, according to Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, executive director at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Many of the victims’ families have launched online fundraisers to cover funeral expenses and other costs, with the support of their local communities.
Among the victims was Bertha Mendoza, who was separated from her sister during the flooding. A eulogy posted on her GoFundMe page, authored by her daughter-in-law, paid tribute to Mendoza’s life: “She was loved dearly by her family, community, her church family, and co-workers.” The family has declined interview requests but continues to seek assistance from the public during this difficult time.
The tragedy at Impact Plastics has brought renewed scrutiny to the protocols that companies follow during natural disasters. Questions are being raised about why employees were not evacuated sooner and how better safety measures could have prevented the devastating outcome.
The situation in Erwin underscores the often-overlooked vulnerabilities faced by workers in rural areas, particularly those employed in manufacturing or other industrial settings. Many are left with few options but to continue working in dangerous conditions, driven by economic necessity and limited resources.
For the families of those still missing, hope and grief intermingle as they wait for news of their loved ones. The flooding in Tennessee has become one of the many tragic chapters in the broader story of Hurricane Helene’s impact, which has seen entire communities uprooted and lives irrevocably altered.
As the region begins to assess the damage and rebuild, there is a growing call for change—from improved infrastructure and emergency response systems to greater accountability from employers in times of crisis. For the workers at Impact Plastics and their families, it is a call that comes far too late, but one that could help prevent future tragedies.
