NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee state authorities said Wednesday they are investigating the company that owns a plastics factory where 11 workers were swept away by cataclysmic flooding unleashed by Hurricane Helene. As the nearby Nolichucky River swelled from rainfall, employees in the Impact Plastics factory in Erwin, a small community in rural Tennessee, kept working.
Several asserted that they weren't allowed to leave in time. It wasn't until water flooded into the parking lot and the power went out that the plant shut down and sent workers home. Several never made it.
The raging waters swept 11 people away, and only five were rescued. Two of them are confirmed dead and are part of a toll across six states that topped 180. Four others in the factory are still missing since they were washed away Friday in Erwin, where dozens of people were also rescued from a hospital roof.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Leslie Earhart said Wednesday the agency is investigating allegations involving Impact Plastics at the direction of the local prosecutor. District Attorney Steven R. Finney said he asked the bureau to look into any potential criminal violations related to the "occurrences" on Friday.
"Impact Plastics has not been contacted by the TBI yet but will fully cooperate with their investigation," said the company's spokesperson, Tony Treadway. Meanwhile in North Carolina, government planes brought food and water to the hardest-hit areas and crews continued to search.
