ERWIN, Tenn. (WVLT) - A plastics factory in Unicoi County is under fire after some employees were trapped and killed there during flooding brought by Hurricane Helene.

One Impact Plastic’s employees — Jacob Ingram — said lives could have been saved, had employees been allowed to leave the facility sooner.

“I didn’t hear anyone say ‘leave’ or nothing like that. I actually asked one of the higher ups,” Ingram said. “They told me ‘no, not yet.’ They have to ask someone before we was able to leave, even though it was already above the doors and the cars and everything else.”

Ingram said he was swept away by floodwaters Friday, having to clamber on top of a semi-truck to get to higher ground. That’s when he was rescued by a helicopter.

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The worker said he and his fellow employees were together that day when Helene’s waters came through.

At least two of those employees were killed. Another six, and a contractor, are still missing, according to Impact Plastics.

The company released a statement following the tragedy. Its representatives said the company monitored weather conditions, dismissing employees when the facility lost power and water began to cover the parking lot.

Ingram said that isn’t what happened.

“No. The plant lost power, and we were still not to go home or leave,” he told WVLT News. “We were still there 15 to 20 minutes after the plant lost power.”

The company said some employees left immediately, but others stayed behind for unknown reasons.

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Ron Kell, the owner of nearby R&R Manufacturing, went to Impact Plastics to help the rescue effort. This, after he sent his own employees home.

“I was yelling at them to come; she was talking to her boss,” Kell said, remembering the day.

Impact Plastics has since said it’s organizing a recovery center for employees. One thing the company hasn’t done, Ingram said, is reach out.

“I haven’t heard a thing,” he said. “They haven’t reached out to make sure we are okay, nothing.”

Impact Plastics said senior management was the last to leave the building, adding that the company reached out to emergency responders to help rescue people.

Their full statement is below.

The senior management team of Impact Plastics, Inc. (“Impact Plastics”) of Erwin, Tennessee expresses sympathy for the missing and deceased employees and one contractor during the historic and devastating floods at its facility on Friday, September 27th.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of great employees,” said Gerald O’Connor, who founded the company in Erwin in 1987. “Those who are missing or deceased, and their families are in our thoughts and prayers.”

Impact Plastics, is located in the Riverview Industrial Park. On the morning of September 27th rainfall had been intense the previous night, but subsided as the morning went on.

The company continued to monitor weather conditions. When water began to cover the parking lot and the adjacent service road, and the plant lost power, employees were dismissed by management to return to their homes in time for them to escape the industrial park. At no time were employees told that they would be fired if they left the facility. For employees who were non-English speaking, bi-lingual employees were among the group of managers who delivered the message.

While most employees left immediately, some remained on or near the premises for unknown reasons. Senior management and assistants remained to oversee employee departures, assess damage and preserve company records. They were the last to exit the building.

As flooding escalated, some employees left the industrial park using a truck owned by a neighboring company and driven by a driver employed by that company. Others departed by the CSX railroad track behind the facility due to the high waters at the front door and coming into the building. Due to the quickly rising water the truck tipped over and five employees and a contractor aboard the truck went missing. Five others who were also on the truck when it tipped over made it to safety and were later evacuated. Those who departed by the railroad tracks were offered assistance from employees of an adjacent company, making it to safety.

Senior management sought emergency responders to attempt further rescue of employees. A National Guard helicopter was subsequently dispatched that rescued five employees who were airlifted to safety.

A recovery center is currently being organized to aid current Impact Plastic employees and provide additional information on their benefits and local job opportunities. These employees will be alerted to when and where the facility will be open soon.

The company plans to reopen its operation in the future.

Impact Plastics remains committed to assisting its employees and help them connect to available resources after the devastating [SIC] effects of the horrific floods that occurred on September 27, 2024.