Greater than 50 hospital sufferers and workers have been airlifted from the roof of the constructing in Tennessee on Friday afternoon in a dramatic rescue operation after flash flooding overwhelmed the realm.
An pressing evacuation was launched because the storm results of Hurricane Helene have been felt far and broad, with the state emergency company and the nationwide guard responding to the scenario that rapidly unfolded at Unicoi hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, about 100 miles exterior Knoxville.
The hospital chain Ballad Well being, which oversees Unicoi hospital, mentioned afternoon they obtained discover of a have to evacuate the hospital simply after 9.30am on Friday, resulting from “unusually excessive and rising water from the Nolichucky River”.
Eleven sufferers have been on the hospital when the evacuation efforts began, however whereas the hospital deployed ambulances, “the flooding of the property occurred so rapidly the ambulances couldn’t safely method the hospital”, the corporate mentioned.
Native authorities then determined to deploy boats to assist evacuate folks, hospital officers mentioned, however “sadly, the water across the hospital, which had additionally begun intruding contained in the hospital, grew to become extraordinarily harmful and impassable and prevented the boats from safely with the ability to evacuate”.
And within the speedy hours, helicopters couldn’t safely fly due to excessive winds.
By early afternoon, 54 folks have been stranded on the roof of the constructing awaiting rescue, whereas seven have been in rescue boats, hospital officers mentioned.
“The hospital has been engulfed by extraordinarily harmful and quickly transferring water,” the assertion learn, including: “The scenario on the hospital could be very harmful.”
The assertion from hospital officers added: “We ask everybody to please pray for the folks at Unicoi county hospital, the primary responders on-scene, the navy leaders who’re actively working to assist, and our state leaders.”
On social media, images have been being shared of the sufferers and hospital workers on the roof of the constructing, surrounded by water.
Unicoi County Hospital proper now.. Dozens of workers and sufferers caught as water continues to rise!!! 🙏🙏🙏 No phrases…
📸 Brittany Renfro pic.twitter.com/ATETKUaDqI
— Tri-Cities WX/ALERTS (@wxnotifications) September 27, 2024
Erwin’s police chief, Regan Tilson, advised the native information station WCYB on Friday that nobody had been injured within the flooding. The station additionally reported that a number of patrol cruisers and ambulances had been misplaced to the flood waters.
At 2.36pm, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, who represents Tennessee’s first congressional district, mentioned that helicopters had arrived and have been evacuating the stranded folks.
However by 4.17pm, Tennessee US senator Invoice Hagerty had tweeted about the operation’s success. “Everybody has been rescued safely from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin. Extra hassle on the horizon for East Tennessee communities. Please keep secure and thanks on your prayers!” he posted.