Photo: Virginia State Police
Over 50 people were rescued after being trapped on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, on Friday (September 27) morning due to flooding from Tropical Storm Helene.
Just after 9:30 a.m., Ballad Health received a notice from the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency that the hospital needed to be evacuated due to the imminent threat of flooding.
"Unfortunately, the water around the hospital, which had also begun intruding inside the hospital, became extremely dangerous and impassable and prevented the boats from safely being able to evacuate the hospital. Due to high winds, no helicopters could safely fly in an effort to help evacuate the hospital," Ballad Health said in a statement posted on X.
Officials said that by 12:30 p.m., 43 staff members and 11 patients were moved to the roof, while seven others were stuck in rescue boats.
It took over four hours for rescuers, which included the Virginia State Police, the Tennessee National Guard, and Ballad Health's Highlands Emergency Air Rescue & Transport helicopter, to safely evacuate everybody from the roof.
"All hospital personnel and patients have been rescued from Unicoi County Hospital," Ballad Health wrote on X. "As of 4:40 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, no one remains at the facility. Affected patients have been transferred to Johnson City Medical Center, and their families have been updated."
The Virginia State Police shared a video on X from the dramatic rescue.