The last time Elías Ibarra Mendoza heard his wife’s voice, she was pleading for his help.
“‘Tell my kids that I love them very much and I won’t be able to answer your calls anymore because the phone will get wet,’” Ibarra Mendoza recalled. He never heard from his wife of 38 years again.
The 56-year-old grandmother was one of 11 workers from a Tennessee plastics plant swept away by the deadly floodwaters of Hurricane Helene. The workers had attempted to leave the facility, but only five were rescued. Four others from the Impact Plastics plant in Erwin remain missing, and two have been confirmed dead, including Mendoza.
Families of the victims and Impact Plastics workers are outraged, demanding answers about why, they say, employees were made to work during extreme weather conditions. Some were allegedly told they couldn’t leave as warnings of heavy rainfall were issued for the flood-prone area. Impact Plastics has denied these claims, asserting that no employee was prevented from leaving.
Two state investigations are currently underway, as employees, victims’ families, and company owners provide conflicting accounts of the events leading to the flood.
Family members of the missing are in a state of anguish, waiting for news about their loved ones’ whereabouts. Many communities are still grappling with a lack of food, water, power, and communication. Helene’s powerful winds and floods have wreaked havoc, leaving a trail of destruction spanning over 500 miles from Florida to the Southern Appalachians.
At least two workers from Impact Plastics have stated they were told to continue working, just over a mile from a hospital that had to rescue over 50 people from the roof due to high floodwaters that same day. The company, however, claims that employees were told to leave the facility at least 45 minutes before the floodwaters hit the industrial park.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration are currently investigating the workplace fatalities.
Across six states, over 200 people have died as a result of Hurricane Helene, and officials fear that number could rise as rescue operations and relief efforts continue.
Impact Plastics stated that a preliminary review of the flooding event showed that all employees had left the plant less than an hour after power was lost and public warnings were issued. The company claims that supervisors did not prohibit employees from leaving and did not threaten anyone with termination.
However, the company’s claims have been disputed by Mendoza family attorney Greg Coleman, who stated that many people have told a different story.
“The problem with that narrative is that’s not what a lot of people are saying or agreeing with. In fact, the exact opposite,” Coleman remarked.
The company has stated that senior management was the last to leave, about 45 minutes after the plant had been closed and all other employees had been dismissed.
“The findings are that employees were told to leave the plant at least 45 minutes before the flood hit,” stated Gerald O’Connor, the company’s CEO. “To our knowledge, no one perished while on company property.”
An employee who managed to escape told of his experience, stating that when he asked to leave after seeing a flooded parking lot, he was told no. Another employee, Jacob Ingram, recalled being told, “no, not yet” when he asked to leave.
Impact Plastics has stated that their parking lot is in a low-lying area and is prone to flooding, but their review showed that water was only about six inches deep when employees were dismissed.
“Subsequent analysis of recorded video footage and photographs has identified both current and missing employees who left the property of Impact Plastics and remained on South Industrial Drive for approximately 45 minutes after the plant’s closure,” the preliminary review stated.
The company claims that when the first shift began, there were no flooding alerts. Water began to pool in the parking lot at 10:35 a.m., power was lost at 10:39 a.m., and public warnings were issued just a minute later.
However, multiple flood and storm alerts were issued for the area, including the plastics plant, before the last shift began.
“Move to higher ground now. Act quickly to protect your life,” urged one of the flood warnings.
“Employees were directed to leave the plant property within minutes of the power outage,” the company stated.
The company has stated that they are investigating the events surrounding the flood, as they have received threats and have not yet submitted a fatality report to the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The Mendoza family is heartbroken over the loss of Bertha, with her son, Guillermo, expressing the deep love she had for her family.
“She always prioritized the safety of her grandchildren, her children,” he stated.
The family had just celebrated Mendoza’s 56th birthday last month, and now they are left to plan a funeral they never expected.
“We’re just trying to heal as a family and bury my mother with dignity,” Guillermo Mendoza said.
Employee Monica Hernandez also lost her life in the floodwaters, leaving her family in mourning.
“She always had a smile on,” her niece recalled.
Robert Jarvis, another employee who managed to escape, expressed his anguish over the loss of his colleagues.
“It hurts knowing that they didn’t make it, and I did,” he said, fighting back tears.
Jarvis, who was at work during the flooding, has one burning question for Impact Plastics: “Why’d you make us work that day? Why? We shouldn’t have been there.”
“It breaks my heart for them, people that we lost,” he added. “We were like family, and it broke my heart to see that they died all because of greed, I think.”
The events surrounding Hurricane Helene and the Impact Plastics plant have raised significant questions about workplace safety during extreme weather. The conflicting accounts from employees and management highlight a troubling trend in the industrial sector, where the pressure to maintain operations can sometimes overshadow employee safety.
The implications of these events extend beyond the immediate tragedy. As climate change continues to escalate, extreme weather events will likely become more frequent and severe. Companies will need to reassess their emergency protocols and employee safety measures to ensure that workers are not put in harm’s way during such events.
In the wake of these tragedies, there is a growing call for more stringent regulations and oversight in the workplace, particularly in industries prone to extreme weather. Companies that prioritize employee safety and adhere to best practices will likely see a more positive public image and employee morale, while those that do not could face severe backlash and loss of trust.
As we look to the future, it is essential for industries to adopt a more proactive approach to safety, including regular training for employees on emergency protocols and the establishment of clear communication channels during crises.
The need for a cultural shift within organizations, where employee safety is prioritized over profit, is more critical than ever. Companies that can adapt to these emerging trends will not only protect their employees but also ensure their long-term viability in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
The tragedy of Hurricane Helene serves as a stark reminder of the need for change in workplace practices, and it is a call to action for industries to put people before profit.
