The tragic incident at Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, occurred during the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Some employees reportedly went missing or died after being told to report to work under dangerous conditions, despite the storm. The company denied allegations that workers were threatened with termination if they left early, but several employees were trapped when rising waters overtook the facility. Rescue attempts were complicated, and multiple agencies are still involved in search efforts for the missing individuals.

Key Facts:

Date of Incident: September 27, 2024

Company: Impact Plastics, Erwin, Tennessee

Missing Individuals: 5 employees and 1 contractor remain unaccounted for after a truck, used to escape rising floodwaters, tipped over during evacuation efforts

Main Red Flags:

Some workers’ families and social media posts claim that employees were forced to stay and threatened with termination if they left, despite dangerous conditions

Reports suggest that employees were not immediately dismissed, raising concerns about management's response time and the company's overall disaster preparedness

Non-English-speaking employees may not have fully understood the urgency of the situation due to poor communication, despite management's claim of using bilingual staff

There are discrepancies regarding when employees were told to evacuate and how long rescue attempts were delayed, contributing to the confusion surrounding the missing individuals

These red flags have prompted ongoing investigations into whether proper safety measures and evacuation protocols were followed. Further details may emerge as search efforts continue.

[oai_citation:2,IMPACT PLASTICS REPORT WORKERS MISSING AND FATALITIES – Tri-Cities Local News](https://www.hvbcgroup.com/news/?p=139127).

[oai_citation:4,IMPACT PLASTICS REPORT WORKERS MISSING AND FATALITIES – Tri-Cities Local News](https://www.hvbcgroup.com/news/?p=139127) [oai_citation:3,Employees Of A Tennessee Plastics Company Are Reportedly Missing After Being Forced To Work During Hurricane | YourTango](https://www.yourtango.com/news/employees-plastics-company-reportedly-missing-forced-work-hurricane)

[oai_citation:1,IMPACT PLASTICS REPORT WORKERS MISSING AND FATALITIES – Tri-Cities Local News](https://www.hvbcgroup.com/news/?p=139127).