Erwin, Tennessee — After weeks of persistent search efforts, the body of 29-year-old Rosa Andrade, an Impact Plastics employee swept away in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Helene, has been recovered. The discovery ends a month-long search that began when devastating floods overwhelmed parts of Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina, leaving a community in mourning and raising serious questions about worker safety and emergency preparedness in flood-prone industrial areas.
Andrade’s body was found in a debris pile along Interstate 26 in Erwin, Tennessee, according to Unicoi County Search and Rescue chief William Edwards. Her body was identified a day after recovery on October 30, marking the end of the search for all missing employees from Impact Plastics swept away on September 27 when the Nolichucky River flooded. Andrade, who was the last of six missing employees confirmed dead, leaves behind a husband, Francisco Javier Guerrero, and two young children. Guerrero recounted his final exchange with her as she was trapped inside the plant, where she worked as a machine operator. “She said goodbye to me and asked me to take care of the kids,” he shared in a heart-wrenching statement【7†source】【8†source】.
Edwards reported that efforts to locate Andrade were hampered by extensive debris, with piles as high as 30 feet. The eventual discovery was made by a roadside cleanup crew, who immediately halted their work and contacted authorities. This search, a coordinated effort involving local search-and-rescue teams, police, and volunteers, faced significant challenges due to the scale of destruction left by Helene.
Impact Plastics has faced mounting scrutiny as survivors and families of the victims demand answers. According to an initial investigation, the factory management allegedly did not enforce an early evacuation on the morning of September 27 despite known risks. In fact, some employees, including Johnny Wayne Peterson, had attempted to exit the site as floodwaters rose dangerously. Peterson’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, citing negligence. The suit claims that senior management exited through a back door to safety while instructing employees to move their vehicles to higher ground, a move the family argues amounted to gross disregard for worker safety【8†source】【9†source】.
The company’s preliminary review disputes these claims, stating that employees were given sufficient notice to evacuate and that senior management were among the last to leave. Impact Plastics CEO Gerald O’Connor expressed sorrow over the tragedy, noting that no staff remained on company grounds at the time of the fatal flooding. The company has yet to release its full investigation findings, and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) is also conducting a separate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The recovery of Andrade’s body has brought a sense of closure to the grieving community, where family, friends, and colleagues had held vigils and memorials over the past month. Meanwhile, local officials have highlighted the need for improved emergency preparedness in Unicoi County, particularly for industrial sites located near flood zones. Additional state funding has been sought to bolster flood response capacity and infrastructure resilience in the area.
In light of the lawsuit and ongoing investigations, the incident at Impact Plastics may well become a catalyst for broader changes in workplace safety protocols, especially in flood-prone areas. For now, Rosa Andrade’s family and the families of other victims continue to seek solace and justice amid ongoing investigations that may bring to light critical safety oversights during one of Tennessee’s deadliest flooding events【7†source】【8†source】【9†source】.
