More than 50 patients and staff were resecued from the roof of a Tennessee hospital after floodwaters inundated the building.
The Tennessee National Guard was part of the rescue effort Friday afternoon at Unicoi County Hospital in eastern Tennessee. The region was submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Helene.
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Emergency crews had attempted to evacuate people by ambulance and boats, but the water began rising too quickly. They had no other choice but to seek shelter on the rooftop.
Tennessee Emergency Management worked with Ballard Health to coordinate the safe evacuation of all staff members and patients. Virginia State Police also assisted with the rescue.
Hospital chairman Alan Levine said the situation at the hospital was very dangerous after the facility was “engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water.”
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) praised their efforts.
“Everyone has been rescued safely from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin,” he wrote on X. “More trouble on the horizon for East Tennessee communities. Please stay safe and thank you for your prayers!”
Watch video of the incident below.
@MaxVelocityWX Hospital in Erwin Tennessee has staff on the roof and the radio station down the road is under water and the tower has been taken down due to catastrophic flooding. pic.twitter.com/kQZ9VKcGWl
— Clay Ramsey (@PlayByClay) September 27, 2024
🚨 #BREAKING: At least 50 patients and staff are trapped on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Tennessee
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 27, 2024
This is terrifying.
Emergency crews attempted to evacuate people by ambulance and boats, but the water began rising way too quickly and and is moving too rapidly to… pic.twitter.com/2uaw8B6gdy
As of 4:40 p.m., Virginia State Police Aviation assets from Abingdon, Va., along with assets from Ballad Health and the Tennessee National Guard, have completed the rescue of approximately 54 people from the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tenn. pic.twitter.com/7O74lYGLnx
— VA State Police (@VSPPIO) September 27, 2024