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A Tennessee plastics factory faces scrutiny of its emergency response procedures after several employees were killed or went missing during Hurricane Helene, amid allegations that workers were initially prevented from leaving as conditions worsened.
Impact Plastics has confirmed multiple fatalities at its Erwin plant, including employees and a contractor, though exact numbers have not been disclosed. The incident comes as the hurricane's death toll across five south eastern states exceeds 130.
Jacob Ingram, a mold changer at the facility, told a local news source that managers instructed staff to move their vehicles away from rising water but initially refused requests to evacuate.
"When we moved our cars, we should've evacuated then... we asked them if we should evacuate, and they told us not yet, it wasn’t bad enough" he claimed
“And by the time it was bad enough, it was too late – unless you had a four-wheel drive.”
The company has denied the claims, stating in a press release that "employees were dismissed by management to return to their homes" when floodwaters covered the parking lot and power was lost.
They emphasised that bilingual managers assisted non-English speaking workers, and "at no time were employees told that they would be fired if they left.”
However, Fernando Ruiz said his mother, who worked at the plant, told him she received no guidance from management as conditions deteriorated. The company countered that "while most employees left immediately, some remained on or near the premises for unknown reasons.”
Among the confirmed casualties is Bertha Mendoza, 56, who became separated from her sister while trying to stay afloat, according to a family GoFundMe page.
Immigrant worker challenges
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition reported that affected individuals faced challenges accessing interpretation services from government agencies. The organisation also said that documentation requirements hindered some families' efforts to locate missing relatives.
Impact Plastics' founder Gerald O'Connor expressed devastation over the losses: "Those who are missing or deceased and their families are in our thoughts and prayers,” he offered.
The incident raises significant questions about workplace emergency protocols, particularly regarding clear evacuation procedures and communication with non-English speaking employees during natural disasters.
The tragedy highlights the critical importance of robust workplace safety protocols during extreme weather events and the need for clear communication channels with all employees, regardless of language barriers.
