Over 50 people were successfully rescued after being stranded on the roof of a hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, due to flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. The rescue operation took place on Friday, with some individuals stuck on the roof for several hours, according to local officials.
Michael Baker, an alderman in Erwin, reported that the trapped individuals at Unicoi County Hospital were all taken to safety by Friday evening. He emphasized the coordination of helicopter rescues, stating, “There’s a helicopter on top of the hospital, and we have another one, hovering nearby to start to carousel getting everybody off, but this is a team effort.”
Ballad Health, which operates Unicoi County Hospital, indicated that the request for evacuation was made around 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday. However, due to severe flooding and strong winds related to the storm, both ambulances and helicopters were unable to safely access the hospital.
The 54 people that were successfully moved included 11 patients, while seven others were placed in rescue boats. The hospital faced peril as it became “engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water,” rendering rescue boats ineffective at evacuating people.
Baker described the urgency of the situation, recalling, “The water came up so fast, I literally looked at the owner and said, ‘We’ve got to get out of here.’” Unicoi County Hospital is noted as a 10-bed nonprofit facility.
The storm, which initially made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, has caused widespread devastation, claiming at least 45 lives across five states and resulting in flash flooding throughout the Southeast. The storm, now downgraded to a tropical depression, has left millions without power, caused extensive home damage, and led to significant road closures.
One of the rescuees, Angel Mitchell, recounted her experience of being stranded on the roof for four hours while her 83-year-old mother was placed in a nearby rescue boat due to illness. As water began encroaching on the hospital, staff directed individuals to the roof for safety, while Mitchell navigated chest-deep waters to reach safety.
“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through,” she expressed, describing the nerve-wracking moments as she watched her mother, who relies on an oxygen tank, being moved to safety.
While awaiting rescue, Mitchell saw debris from homes floating by in the flooding. The water levels rose rapidly, yet a group of patients, nurses, and doctors found solace in prayer as they waited for help. Once helicopters arrived, they transported the stranded individuals to a hospital located 20 miles north.
As of Friday afternoon, approximately 1.1 million people across the region faced various flash flood emergencies, underscoring the high levels of risk posed by the severe conditions.