Patients and staff at Unicoi County Hospital are being rescued by helicopters after being trapped on the roof due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene.
According to a news report by WCYB in the Tri-Cities, they spoke with Erwin Police Chief Regan Tilson who said more than 50 people are trapped on the roof. Ballad Health said as of 12:27 p.m., 54 people were on the roof.
All roads accessing the hospital are impassable due to flooding. Several cruisers and ambulances have been lost.
A SWAT team happened to be training and was able to save medications for the patients. Tilson said all patients and staff are safe at this time.
Ballad said the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard are involved in the rescue operation. The National Guard said it could use three helicopters for the rescue, heading out from the McGhee Tyson Airport, and said crews were waiting for a break in the weather to rescue the people safely.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office said it has also sent an air rescue unit to the hospital to help evacuate patients on the rooftop. The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Virginia State Police said they are also assisting in the rescue.
Ballad Health said the Nolichucky River rose rapidly in Unicoi County before ambulances could arrive to safely evacuate people. The company said it spoke with TEMA, and they worked with local emergency management agencies to deploy boats. However, the churning floodwater became too dangerous for boats, and high winds kept helicopters from safely flying initially.
“The water there simply came up faster with more debris than was safe to operate in the rafts to ferry from a dry point back to the hospital,” said Patrick Sheehan, Tennessee's emergency operations director, in an Associated Press report.
The report said the Virginia State Police helicopter was able to land on the roof to help rescue people, with the three National Guard helicopters heading to the hospital with hoist capabilities.
"Ballad Health is actively working to rescue people remaining in place at Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, following severe flooding in the region.
As of 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, the health system is working in concert with its Highlands Emergency Air Rescue & Transport (HEART) helicopter, which operates in partnership with MedTrans Corporation; Virginia State Police; and the Tennessee National Guard to evacuate all remaining individuals."
