General Discussion

BlueWaveNeverEnd

(10,455 posts) Tue Oct 1, 2024, 01:40 PM Oct 1

116

Tennessee plastics factory staff killed in Hurricane Helene reportedly told not to evacuate [View all]

Several employees at a plastics factory in eastern Tennessee were killed during Hurricane Helene or are missing, amid warnings that the storm’s current death toll of more than 130 is likely to rise substantially as subsiding floodwaters allow rescuers to search through the wreckage.

Impact Plastics confirmed there had been fatalities at its plant in Erwin but did not say how many people had been killed. The company said there were missing and deceased employees as well as a contractor.

Officials have said at least 130 people across five states in the south-eastern US have been killed as a result of Helene, which thrashed ashore in Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday.

Jacob Ingram, a mold changer at the company, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that as the flooding started, managers instructed employees to move their cars away from the rising water – but would not let them leave. “They should’ve evacuated when we got the flash flood warnings, and when they saw the parking lot,” he said to the newspaper. “When we moved our cars, we should’ve evacuated then … we asked them if we should evacuate, and they told us not yet, it wasn’t bad enough.

“And by the time it was bad enough, it was too late – unless you had a four-wheel drive.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/oct/01/tennessee-plastics-factory-hurricane

63 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Tennessee plastics factory staff killed in Hurricane Helene reportedly told not to evacuate [View all] BlueWaveNeverEnd Oct 1 OP

How horrible for the victims and their families. riversedge Oct 1 #1

I hope the lawsuits will be allow their families to live comfortably. nt Coventina Oct 1 #2

hate to tell you this but onethatcares Oct 1 #5

I'm sure you're correct. Gd-damn them!! Coventina Oct 1 #6

If it turns out this was intentional, they may not be able to discharge the claim in bankruptcy. SunSeeker Oct 1 #40

Their money is probably already overseas Squaredeal Oct 1 #53

and close the company. f them ZonkerHarris Oct 1 #26

The trick to getting out is bugging when you can. That company showed a depraved indifference to its employees. marble falls Oct 1 #3

Happens every time. Focus is on maintaining status quo for as long as possible. vanlassie Oct 1 #13

It's the capitalist way after all. 2naSalit Oct 1 #23

As it will be with climate change on the whole misanthrope Oct 3 #63

more BlueWaveNeverEnd Oct 1 #4

Heartbreaking........n/t Hope22 Oct 1 #9

Horrific way to die pfitz59 Oct 1 #42

The owners should be arrested for murder malaise Oct 1 #7

Was just thinking how America's classist society is looking like Japan....... jaxexpat Oct 1 #11

Interesting take malaise Oct 1 #16

Banzai rather than bonsai? dobleremolque Oct 1 #32

You saw right to the heart of my little word play. jaxexpat Oct 2 #57

It's murder, serial killers. Blue Full Moon Oct 1 #8

" They have personhood so make them accountable" YES! YES! YES! Clouds Passing Oct 1 #19

Not serial killing, mass murder, at least in this particular instance. ShazzieB Oct 1 #24

It is looking like murder. SunSeeker Oct 1 #41

If the managers left and told the workers they had to stay, that's reprehensible. ShazzieB Oct 1 #50

Gerald O'Connor GOP Blue Full Moon Oct 1 #54

I wonder how much "dead peasant" insurance those fucking scum owners niyad Oct 1 #10

our best is not in Las Vegas jaxexpat Oct 1 #12

This was a very long time ago. I could not speak to the current state niyad Oct 1 #15

Every business should have a muster station and all employees should know where it is in Bev54 Oct 1 #21

Good question malaise Oct 1 #22

Murder? BSloat Oct 1 #14

I hope so. calimary Oct 1 #18

Shades of the candle factory in Kentucky Danmel Oct 1 #17

Maybe they should not have been working to begin with???? Bev54 Oct 1 #20

Is TN a right to work state? 2naSalit Oct 1 #25

Yes, it is a Right To Fire Without Consequences state ArkansasDemocrat1 Oct 1 #28

Thanks... 2naSalit Oct 1 #34

That's exactly why. It benefits the boss when he screws up ArkansasDemocrat1 Oct 1 #37

Living In One, Myself... GB_RN Oct 1 #46

Sounds like... 2naSalit Oct 1 #49

Not Far From It. GB_RN Oct 1 #51

How did you guess? jmowreader Oct 1 #31

Something... 2naSalit Oct 1 #36

Yes Jilly_in_VA Oct 1 #33

Ouch. GB_RN Oct 1 #48

There's one hospital that I know of in the area that's unionized Jilly_in_VA Oct 2 #58

Patient Ratios... GB_RN Oct 2 #59

California has patient ratios Jilly_in_VA Oct 3 #61

I Traveled For A Bit. GB_RN Oct 3 #62

the factory was on the opposite side of the interstate from the river. maxsolomon Oct 1 #27

My first big hurricane was Hazel, and she was no lady, either. Warpy Oct 1 #29

Manslaughter charges for all concerned ArkansasDemocrat1 Oct 1 #30

Had I been a manager there, I would have sent my people home. And then I would've left right after them. Just fire me. iluvtennis Oct 1 #35

That would have been my choice too... 2naSalit Oct 1 #38

That's so heartbreaking wendyb-NC Oct 1 #39

Remember when workers in Kentucky were told not to leave before a tornado struck... Person of Interest Oct 1 #43

The company put out a message saying, "We never actually told them not to leave!!!" Oneironaut Oct 1 #44

That manager and that firm's owner's should be charged with murder...........or reckless endangerment ........... turbinetree Oct 1 #45

"by the time it was bad enough, it was too late" - much like the "life of the mother" abortion ban exception. SunSeeker Oct 1 #56

Remember--45% of the country wants this AND MORE durablend Oct 1 #47

K&R for exposure Docreed2003 Oct 1 #52

They died WORKING Charmin One Oct 1 #55

This reminds me when a previous The Third Doctor Oct 2 #60