Tennessee Launches Investigation After Plastics Factory Workers Trapped by Hurricane Helene Floods Die or Go Missing

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Wednesday that it is investigating allegations against an Erwin plastics factory, where multiple workers died and others went missing after being swept away by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters.

 

Leslie Earhart the Bureau’s spokesperson stated in a press release, “At Steve Finney’s request, TBI agents have been investigating allegations regarding Impact Plastics.” The Bureau referred any additional questions to the District Attorney General’s Office.

 

Finney said in a press release that he asked specifically “that they review Friday, September 27th, 2024 to identify potential criminal violations.”

 

In an email, a spokesperson for Impact Plastics stated that the company was aware of the investigation. However, they had not been contacted yet. The statement stated that the company would fully cooperate. The company will conduct its own review of the events and timelines on September 27th. It will share information when the review is completed.

 

Families of missing or deceased workers, and those who were still alive at the factory, have claimed that they were forced to report to work even though the hurricane was moving through the region. Some claim they were not allowed to leave the factory before floodwaters caused by heavy rains inundated its parking lot, cutting off their escape routes.

 

 

Robbie Jarvis is one of the survivors and said that his request to leave was denied. He was instead told to move his vehicle, which he twice did.

 

He claimed that despite the bad weather, “we were told to go to work”. About 30 people were at their jobs on Friday morning when they were trapped by the floodwaters. He described chaos and panic among workers as they tried to cross the dangerous waters.

 

I wish we had never gone to work on that day. All these lives that we lost were unnecessary. Jarvis replied, “It was wrong.”

 

Bertha Mendoza was one of the 56 trapped workers. Guillermo Mendoza confirmed to her that Bertha Mendoza died after being swept off the flatbed truck of the company that was sent to rescue the worker.

 

Fernando Ruiz confirmed the death of his mother, Lidia Verdugo. He said that she fell into the water while trying to reach safety in a vehicle.

 

 

Impact Plastics expressed its sympathy for the missing workers and the deceased, but stated in a press release that the workers had been given enough time to leave.

 

The company stated in a press release that while most employees had left the premises immediately, some remained nearby or on the premises. Senior management and assistants were on hand to supervise employee departures, assess damages, and preserve company documents. “They were the last people to leave the building.”

 

The company also stated that it never told workers that they would be terminated if they quit and that bilingual staff gave warnings to employees.

 

Five workers and one contractor were aboard a truck that was overturned by floodwaters, according to the company. In deference to the families, both state and company officials have not identified the deceased.