Fifty-four individuals were rescued from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital on September 27 after Tropical Storm Helene caused severe flooding that left them trapped.
Virginia State Police completed the rescue operation by 4:45 p.m., utilizing two helicopters to evacuate approximately 40 to 45 people, as reported by spokesperson Matt Demlein. Other agencies successfully rescued the remaining patients and staff members.
Unicoi County Sheriff Mike Hensley described watching as helicopters from various regions arrived at the hospital’s roof, as the floodwaters rose too rapidly to allow boats to reach the building. “It was chaotic. We couldn’t reach them in boats due to high winds and rushing waters. I thank God the hospital held. I kept expecting it to collapse,” Hensley said.
The rescue operation involved National Guard and police helicopters from both Virginia and Tennessee, including three Blackhawk helicopters from Knoxville. Those rescued have been taken to other regional facilities for treatment, while Unicoi County Hospital remains closed indefinitely.
“The main issue is accessing rural areas now,” Hensley explained. “We are cut off from the southern part of the county, and deputies stationed there cannot return home. But it’s fortunate they are available where they are.”
Erwin Police Department Lt. Patrick Bennett reported that the winds were howling, making evacuation efforts challenging. “The water rose so quickly there was nothing we could do,” he shared.
Initially, the day began quietly until the storm intensified dramatically within hours. “It looked like a normal day. When I arrived this morning, it seemed as if nothing was wrong,” Bennett recounted. “Suddenly, the water kept rising and rising.”
Rescue teams prioritized evacuating the most critical patients first. In the aftermath, residents gathered near the hospital, shocked by the sight of flowing water and debris. Unicoi County Clerk Patty Treadway remarked on the astonishing transformation of what was once a peaceful pasture.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said. “I’ve lived here my whole life and have never seen anything like this.”
As ambulances could not access the hospital due to the rapid flooding, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency collaborated with local services to deploy rescue boats. However, the high water levels surrounding the hospital made safe evacuations using boats or helicopters impossible.
By 12:27 p.m., 54 patients had made it to the rooftop while seven remained stranded in rescue boats. “The hospital was overwhelmed by extremely dangerous moving water. The situation there is perilous, necessitating ongoing rescue efforts,” a statement from Ballad noted. “We urge everyone to pray for the people at Unicoi County Hospital, the first responders, the military personnel working on rescue, and our state leaders.”
MedicOne Medical Response shared Facetime recordings showing a former employee and patients trapped on the rooftop, revealing the urgent conditions surrounding the hospital as the water rose swiftly.
Unicoi County Hospital, located in Erwin, Tennessee, approximately 100 miles east of Knoxville and Pigeon Forge, experienced significant flooding as Tropical Storm Helene swept through the Southeast, leading to widespread flooding and power outages.
Similarly, Newport—a Tennessee city about 60 miles west—was evacuated following a significant breach of the Walters Dam near Waterville, North Carolina, on the same day.