NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The family of a Tennessee employee who was killed by catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company he worked for, arguing that workers were forced to stay at their posts even when managers knew conditions were becoming dangerous.
Johnny Peterson was among the Impact Plastics employees who died Sept. 27 after Helene's flooding hit Erwin, a small, rural town in eastern Tennessee.
Many of the surviving employees stated they were not allowed to leave the plant in time to avoid the storm's impact. Instead, it wasn't until water flooded the plant's parking lot and the power went out that managers sent workers home.
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 is nearly 250 dead. Four others from the factory are still missing.
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The suit, filed Monday, names Impact Plastics and company owner Gerald O'Connor as defendants. O'Connor's attorney did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Tuesday.
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