‘Just give us something’ | Families of missing people in Unicoi County demand answers at press conference

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A press conference on search and recovery and flood relief efforts in Unicoi County grew tense and emotional as the loved ones of missing people drilled officials with questions.

At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Unicoi County leaders and Tennessee All-Hazards Incident Management Team Public Information Officer Myron Hughes held the briefing at Unicoi County High School. The entire press conference can be viewed above.

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Prior to the press conference starting, a woman in the crowd spoke out, saying the families of “Lydia and Rosa still have no answers” five days after the flooding struck the region on Sept. 27. She said that search and rescue operations “have not been clear” and insisted that the missing people are Tennesseans who have lived in Erwin for decades and warrant the same level of concern as anyone else.

“They need answers,” she said. “Their families deserve respect, and everyone here deserves equity.”

A long silence followed, filled only with the sounds of sobbing from those gathered.

Hughes began to speak, flanked by Spanish translator Dr. Felipe Fiuza and ASL translator Shauna Walsworth.

Hughes spoke as he has at daily press conferences in Unicoi County, promising that crews are continuing to search for missing people and hope to bring closure to their families. He said that per the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s (TEMA) last update, seven people remain missing in the county. Three flooding deaths have been confirmed in Unicoi County as of Tuesday.

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For several minutes, Hughes addressed the situation in flood-savaged Unicoi County. He spoke about ongoing efforts to restore power, the current state of the county’s boil water advisory, and how people can donate and volunteer.

After about 15 minutes, Hughes opened the floor to questions for what was intended to be 20 minutes. A barrage of questions from those gathered ensued, and the press conference lasted until after 4 p.m.

The first question, what rescuers planned to do to recover those lost to the floods, drew Incident Commander and Unicoi County EMA Director Jimmy Erwin to the podium.

“The plan is, each day, we’re sending out crews to the areas where we think there may be somebody,” Erwin said.

Erwin would remain at the podium for an extended amount of time as Fiuza rapidly translated question after question and, in some cases, declarations of mistreatment. Several statements were directed specifically at Erwin and other county leaders, claiming they have not been involved, while others questioned if those still missing were less of a priority because of their ethnicity.

“Are they less priority because you have other – like I understand that you guys want to find people that you think are alive, but what about these families that are waiting to hear about their families?” a person in the crowd asked through tears. “When are they going to get the closure they need?

“We just want answers. Nobody is getting back to them. They’re getting false hope and just, nothing’s happening.”

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Erwin said he has spoken with the families of the deceased who have been found and the families of those still missing. He assured everyone that crews are ready to respond the moment someone is found, and rescue operations have not stopped.

“We are still searching the area where we believe there may be remains,” Erwin said. “The area we are having to search for the disaster is over a mile long. As I have expressed to each one of the families, they are very important to me, and it is very important to give them closure.”

The Hispanic community members told Erwin they did not believe they were being treated as if they were important and asked for transparency. Some said they were hearing rumors of their loved ones’ deaths through Facebook.

Erwin also fielded questions regarding volunteers being reportedly turned away from assisting in search efforts.

“We were turned away on Sunday whenever we tried to go and see if we could find something, something to help us find them,” a woman said.

“Because of the safety of the situation and the debris piles, we cannot let anyone in unless they are with a rescue organization,” Erwin answered.

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Amid the flurry of questions, News Channel 11 asked Hughes and Erwin if another body had been recovered on Tuesday.

“There was a body recovered [Tuesday] that was transported to the William B. Jenkins Forensic Center,” Erwin said. “I spoke to the forensic center just before this meeting.”

Erwin said that the body has not been identified as of Wednesday, but the family of whoever it is will be contacted when that is done.

“We just want anything at this moment,” one man said from the crowd. “Even if you just found some remains of the bodies. Just let us know.” That man expressed frustration at the miscommunications or lack of communication he had experienced in the wake of the floods while his loved one remains missing.

“It’s hurting us more waiting for an answer, not knowing anything, anything about the family members that are missing,” he continued. “That hurts, and it hurts a lot. Whatever it is, we just want answers. Just give us something, man.”

Other comments claimed that those of Hispanic heritage have been mistreated after the floods and have been unjustly accused of looting and stealing. Hughes and Erwin both offered responses to those comments.

“I apologize that there are rumors that are being spread around about what is going on with the Latin-American community and about bodies being found,” Hughes said.

“You are not thieves,” Hughes stated at the request of those gathered.

“Latinos are not thieves, and no one here has accused you of anything,” Erwin said.

The press conference continued for some time, with family members expressing their frustration and feelings of being considered less important than others. Several pointed to the attention given to the Unicoi County Hospital during the floods and asked why the same was not given to those at the Impact Plastics facility in the industrial park.

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