### Hurricane Helene Causes Tragic Flood at Tennessee Plastics Factory

As Hurricane Helene unleashed relentless rain over rural Tennessee, employees at a local plastics factory continued their work, unaware of the danger rapidly approaching. The situation escalated quickly when the premises lost power and the parking lot became inundated, forcing the factory to finally shut down and send its workers home. Unfortunately, the swift and fierce floodwaters from the Nolichucky River engulfed the area, resulting in a harrowing ordeal for the employees.

Out of eleven workers swept away by the flood, only five were rescued. Tragically, two of them did not survive, adding to the hurricane's mounting death toll, which surpassed 160 across multiple states as of Tuesday. In the small town of Erwin, Tennessee, ongoing searches continue for four employees still unaccounted for since the disaster struck on Friday. The town also witnessed dramatic rescues, with dozens of people being airlifted from the roof of a flooded hospital.

Jacob Ingram, a mold changer at Impact Plastics, documented his perilous experience alongside four others waiting for rescue on social media. He captured chilling videos of vehicles being carried away by the floodwaters and expressed his relief at having survived. Helicopter rescue operations, carried out by the Tennessee National Guard, were also shared online, showcasing the gravity of the situation.

In response to the unfolding catastrophe, Impact Plastics issued a statement on Monday, asserting that they had monitored weather conditions and dismissed employees when it became apparent that the situation was becoming critical. This claim, however, was disputed by some workers who managed to escape. Jacob Ingram and another employee publicly criticized the management's delayed response to the flash flood warnings, arguing that more prompt action could have prevented the dire outcome.

Robert Jarvis, another factory worker, recounted his escape to local news outlets, highlighting the crucible of high waters that rendered normal roads impassable and left only off-road vehicles capable of traversing the flood zone. A Good Samaritan in a 4x4 vehicle eventually rescued Jarvis and several colleagues from the rising waters.

In a subsequent development, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced it was looking into allegations concerning Impact Plastics based on the request from local authorities. Gerald O'Connor, the founder of the company, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of employees, stating, "We are devastated by the tragic loss of great employees. Those who are missing or deceased, and their families are in our thoughts and prayers."

The two confirmed deceased victims from the factory were identified as Mexican citizens. This was confirmed by Lisa Sherman-Nikolaus, the executive director at Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. In response, families of the victims have initiated online fundraisers to aid with funeral expenses and other related costs.

As the death toll continues to rise and searches for the missing persist, survivors in the affected areas grapple with the need for shelter, essential supplies, and the disruption of basic services.