### Tennessee Plastics Plant Under Investigation Following Employee Deaths in Hurricane Helene Flood

The Impact Plastics factory in Unicoi County, Tennessee, has come under scrutiny after the deaths of several workers during the severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The disaster occurred as floodwaters rapidly inundated the area, leading to panic among employees.

One worker, Jarvis, recounted his harrowing experience, describing how he tried to move his car to higher ground in a parking lot that was quickly being submerged. Despite desperate pleas from the employees to evacuate, they were reportedly instructed to stay inside as floodwaters trapped other colleagues outside. "We were in panic mode," Jarvis said. "The water was coming up, and then we did what we had to survive. It was a guy in a 4x4 who came, picked a bunch of us up, and saved our lives, or we'd have been dead too."

A spokesperson for Impact Plastics confirmed to FOX Weather that only two of the seven employees missing during the flood have been found, with their bodies recovered earlier this week. "It hurts knowing that they didn't make it, and I did," expressed Jarvis. "It just doesn't seem fair to me that they didn't make it."

In a statement to FOX Weather, the company said that they monitored the weather conditions and allowed employees to leave once it was deemed unsafe. However, several workers have disputed this claim, asserting that they were told to remain at the factory despite the obvious danger from rising waters.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has since launched a probe into the incident at the request of 1st Judicial District Attorney General Steve Finney. Finney stated that he contacted the TBI on Monday to begin the investigation into the events that transpired on Friday, September 27, 2024, at the Impact Plastics plant in Unicoi County. "Specifically, I asked that they review the occurrences of Friday, September 27, 2024, to identify any potential criminal violations," Finney wrote in his statement to FOX Weather.

The investigation aims to uncover any lapses in protocol or negligence that may have contributed to the tragic deaths of the workers during the hurricane-induced flood.