### Flooding at Impact Plastics Highlights Gaps in Preparedness

Impact Plastics had a routine start to the day on September 27, 2024, with no flooding alerts initially signaling any cause for concern. However, a preliminary review by the company has detailed a series of rapid developments that culminated in a tragic flood, including a power outage occurring at 10:39 AM, followed shortly by public flooding warnings disseminated via cell phones at 10:40 AM.

The company's parking lot, located in a low-lying area off South Industrial Drive, began to accumulate water at around 10:35 AM. This wasn't seen as unusual due to the lot's propensity for flooding after heavy rainfall. Consequently, minutes after the power outage, a decision was made to shut down operations and dismiss all employees, including supervisors. Workers were instructed to leave the premises by 10:50 AM, and bilingual staff ensured the evacuation announcement was translated into Spanish.

Senior management conducted a final walkthrough of the plant to secure important documents and equipment, exiting around 11:35 AM. Despite these efforts, video footage and photos showed that numerous employees remained on South Industrial Drive for approximately 45 minutes post-dismissal. The review indicates these remaining individuals were either rescued or subsequently reported as missing or deceased.

Addressing allegations circulating on social media that supervisors had left before other employees and had forbidden workers from leaving, Impact Plastics decisively refuted these claims. The company’s preliminary review emphasized that no such instructions were given and that senior management were the last to vacate the plant.

In their closing statement, Impact Plastics expressed profound sorrow for the lives lost and the devastation caused by the flood.

Employees have shared harrowing accounts of that morning. Robert Jarvis reported receiving an emergency alert around 10 AM indicating it was unsafe to stay, but he was told to wait for further instructions. Jacob Ingram recounted having only 15 minutes to evacuate before floodwaters rose, forcing him to use plastic gas piping as a makeshift life preserver. The family of Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, who remains missing, conveyed their anguish in the absence of answers regarding her whereabouts.

Efforts to rescue stranded employees were also described by Ron Kell, general manager of nearby Old Hickory Buildings, and his coworker Erick Castellón. Kell used a tractor to clear a path to safety, illustrating the desperate measures taken to safeguard lives as the floodwaters surged.

The incident at Impact Plastics is a poignant reminder of the need for robust emergency preparedness, particularly in areas prone to flooding.