Tennessee factory employees were swept away by Helene. Their families say they weren’t allowed to leave work in time to flee
“The findings are that employees were told to leave the plant at least 45 minutes before the gigantic force of the flood hit the industrial park,” Gerald O’Connor, founder, president and CEO of Impact Plastics, said in a video statement attached to the company’s Thursday statement. “To our knowledge, no one perished while on company property.”
Mexican immigrant families plagued by grief, questions after plant workers swept away by Helene
Lidia Verdugo, Bertha Mendoza and Hernandez, all Mexican Americans, lived in the community for two decades. Hernandez began working at Impact Plastics shortly after arriving, her sister said. The most recent arrival to Erwin, eight years ago, was 29-year ...
Battered community mourns plastics factory workers swept away by Helene in Tennessee
"We are going to prove to our region, to our state and to our nation, how strong a people we are," Erwin, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn White said.
Tennessee is investigating a plastics factory after Helene swept away its workers. Here’s what we know
The families of the 11 Tennessee plastics plant workers swept away by Hurricane Helene’s deadly floodwaters are demanding answers from the company after its officials claimed no flood warnings or alerts were issued before the start of the workers’ shift,
Tennessee factory employees swept away by Helene were not allowed to leave work, families say
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 said were Bertha Mendoza’s last words to him.
Factory workers say company told them not to evacuate from Hurricane Helene. 11 were swept away in floodwaters
An employee at the Tennessee factory where 11 workers were swept away in Hurricane Helene floodwaters, and at least two died, has told The Independent that the company failed to evacuate staff in time despite the dangers,
Tennessee factory says workers had time to flee Helene’s floodwaters. Families of those who were swept away disagree
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,
Death of Tennessee plastics plant employee leaves a close-knit family in grief
Bertha Mendoza, 56, had just celebrated her birthday a week before she was swept away in Hurricane Helene floodwaters as she and others were trying to get to safety.
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Family of Impact Plastics employee remember final phone conversations
Guillermo Mendoza can still remember the last phone call he received from his mother, Bertha, in the morning hours of Sept.
Erwin community holds vigil to mourn dead and missing Impact Plastics employees
During the service, family members of the lost Impact Plastic employees honored their loved ones by lighting a candle and ...
Grief and anger mix as Tennessee plastic plant survivors say permission to leave came too late
While some families confirmed the deaths of their loved ones, others were still waiting for news of the missing, who were ...
How two factories near Impact Plastics in Erwin made sure their employees survived deadly flood
I dug a road into the railroad bank. … I made everybody hit their gas and don’t stop,” said Ron Kell, manager of the Old ...
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First Baptist Erwin, Tenn., among those hard-hit by Helene
The congregation also had to grieve one of its own killed in the flash flooding that devastated portions six states.
The Drowning of This Beloved Cake Baker Should Shame Trump
In the aftermath of the flooding in Erwin, Tennessee, Manuel Cordero joined a search for victims that found three people who ...
Father of Unicoi County football player among Impact Plastics employee deaths
Johnny Peterson, the father of a Unicoi County football player, is among the Impact Plastics employees confirmed to have died ...
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Heartbreak across 6 states: Here are some who lost lives in Hurricane Helene
The deaths of Bertha Mendoza, 56, and Monica Hernandez, 45, were made public by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, which said it has been in touch with their families.
The Immigrant Victim of Helene and the People Who Mourn Her Should Shame Trump
In the aftermath of the flooding in Erwin, Tennessee, Manuel Cordero joined a search for victims that found three people who ...