A devastated community in eastern Tennessee came together to mourn as they lit candles and offered prayers for those who died in the floods in Erwin. Rising waters from the Nolichucky River overwhelmed factory workers who were unable to escape its grip.

Over a hundred attendees turned a Food City parking area into a vigil for the six employees of Impact Plastics who were swept away on September 27 by storm Helene as it tore through the Southeast.

As reported by The Knoxville News Sentinel (Knox News), three employees remain missing while three others have been confirmed dead. These individuals had held on to the back of a flatbed truck in the parking lot as the floodwaters continued to rise.

This vigil, coordinated by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, served as a poignant reflection of the community’s sorrow. Families of the workers gathered alongside Erwin Mayor Glenn White, Ben Booher, director of the Unicoi County Care and Share Ministry, and Rev. Tom Charters from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish. The ceremony was conducted in both English and Spanish, thanks to the support of a translator.

“Once the media, state officials, and federal representatives are gone, we will be here together,” Mayor White expressed. “We will demonstrate to our region, state, and nation just how resilient we truly are.”

Some employees of Impact Plastics claimed that management had prevented them from leaving the facility despite the flood warnings, with waters rising rapidly due to what was described as a once in a 5,000-year storm. The company has denied these allegations.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has begun looking into the situation surrounding Impact Plastics.

Details of the dead and missing at Impact Plastics

During the vigil, grieving family members honored their lost loved ones by lighting candles and holding up their photos.

Bertha Mendoza, 56, fell off the truck where she and others had sought refuge and was lost to the floodwaters, as described by Jacob Ingram, another employee present on the truck.

“She was caught in the catastrophic flooding caused by the overflow of the Nolichucky River and lost sight of her sister as she struggled to stay afloat,” recounts a GoFundMe page created in her honor. Mendoza’s son Guillermo confirmed her passing to Knox News, and her body was found and identified on September 29.

The family of Monica Hernandez learned of her passing from Unicoi County Emergency Management officials on Tuesday, as shared by the immigrant rights coalition.

Hernandez leaves behind her husband, Daniel Delgado, and their three children: Angel, Carlos, and Felix, as stated on her GoFundMe page.

“This abrupt and unforeseen loss has devastated her family and loved ones,” the GoFundMe page, which raised over $25,000 by Friday, noted.

Johnny Peterson, 55, was also confirmed dead after being swept away while hanging on to the truck. He had worked at Impact Plastics for over 35 years and is survived by four children and is expecting another grandchild soon.

“Johnny was well-known for sharing his amusing stories,” reads his obituary, “Often reminiscing about his childhood adventures with cousins while holding a Marlboro Red in one hand, a Dr. Enuff in the other, along with a piece of Mento.”

As of October 1, Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso remains missing. Her husband, Francesco Guerrero, communicated through a translator with Knox News, sharing that she had been in contact with him during the storm morning expressing uncertainty about her safety and asking him to care for their children.

Family members have also identified Lydia Verdugo as one of the missing individuals.

Sibrina Barnett has been reported missing. Her name appeared on the list of individuals being honored at the vigil held for families on October 3. Barnett was employed as a janitor at Impact Plastics, and, according to Ingram, she was one of the staff members trapped in the truck.