Emergency Rescue Operation Amidst Severe Flooding in Tennessee
In a harrowing rescue mission on Friday, authorities successfully airlifted over 50 individuals, including patients and hospital staff, from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, eastern Tennessee. This intervention was critical as fast-moving floodwaters inundated the facility, a situation exacerbated by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, which has unleashed heavy rainfall across the region.
Successful Evacuations Conducted
According to hospital administrators, Ballad Health, as of 4:40 p.m. on September 27, the rescue operation concluded successfully, evacuating all personnel and patients from the hospital. A statement from Ballad Health confirmed, “No one remains at the facility.”
Coordinated Rescue Efforts
The rescue operation was a combined effort between Virginia State Police and the Tennessee National Guard. A spokesperson from Virginia State Police indicated that aviation units from Abingdon were instrumental in the rescue. The Tennessee National Guard deployed three Blackhawk helicopters to aid the operation, ensuring the safe extraction of those trapped.
Flooding Conditions and Rising Dangers
The critical operation was necessitated by the rapid and perilous rise of floodwaters from the nearby Nolichucky River, which engulfed the hospital. An urgent response was deployed as the situation swiftly escalated into a dangerous emergency.
Challenges Faced During the Rescue
In the face of severe weather, high winds interfered with the helicopters’ initial attempts to respond. However, by 2:30 p.m. on Friday, the helicopters arrived to participate in the life-saving mission, as confirmed by Representative Diana Harshbarger.
Before the aerial evacuations, attempts to deploy ambulances for the patients’ evacuation on the ground were thwarted due to the rapid onset of flooding, which rendered the ambulances unable to approach the facility. Boats were subsequently brought in to assist, but rough waters posed further complications.
Impact of Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Big Bend region late Thursday as a Category 4 storm but has since weakened to a tropical depression. The storm has been linked to numerous fatalities across several states, causing historic flooding situations that have posed ongoing dangers to affected communities.
Final Numbers from the Rescue
As part of the emergency response, a total of 54 people were stranded on the roof, and seven individuals were located in rescue boats, awaiting transport to safety.
