Body of Woman Swept Away in Flood Caused by Hurricane Helene Found More Than a Month Later
Rosa Andrade was one of six employees at Erwin, Tennessee's Impact Plastics who was killed due to flooding as a result of the hurricane
The body of a woman who was swept away in Hurricane Helene more than one month ago has been found, local NBC affiliate WBIR reported.
Rosa Andrade, 29, was one of six employees who died as a result of being trapped at the Impact Plastics factory in Erwin, Tenn., due to rising flood waters on Sept. 27. She is survived by her husband and two children.
Andrade's body was found along Interstate 26 on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and was identified the following day, said William Edwards, the chief of the Unicoi County Search and Rescue team, in a statement to CNN.
The greatest challenge in finding Andrade was combing through debris piles, Edwards said, as some were over 30 feet deep.
Related: Over 50 People Trapped on Tennessee Hospital Roof by Hurricane Helene Floodwaters Rescued
Of the 11 workers in the factory at the time of the flood, five were successfully rescued. Surviving workers claim that Impact Plastics employees were not allowed to leave the premises until the parking lot had flooded and the power went out, the Associated Press reported.
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The intense flooding originated from the nearby Nolichucky River, which ran beside the factory and I-26. The river, which typically runs about 2 feet deep, rose to 30 feet in depth the day of the flood. The AP reported that 1.4 million gallons of water ran downstream each second — twice as much as Niagara Falls.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is currently looking into allegations against Impact Plastics, and the state's workplace safety office is also investigating the nature of the deaths.
Gerald O'Connor, owner of Impact Plastics, claims that "no employees were forced to keep working, and they were evacuated at least 45 minutes before the massive force of the flood hit the industrial park," per the AP.
Related: Hurricane Helene's Death Toll Climbs to 224. Here's How to Help Relief Efforts
Additionally, family members and relatives of some of the workers who died in the flooding are suing Impact Plastics. Relatives of Johnny Peterson, who also died in the flooding, have filed a lawsuit against the company for wrongful death. The lawsuit contends that employees were not dismissed from work, as O'Connor claimed, and were only directed to move their cars while senior management left the premises.
Francisco Javier Guerrero, Andrade's husband, last spoke to his wife while she was inside the factory. She said goodbye to him, and told him to look after the children, he told WBIR.
Andrade is one of over 200 killed in Hurricane Helene. All those who went missing in Unicoi County during the hurricane have now been found.