Crews in Tennessee worked Friday to rescue more than 50 people who were trapped on the roof of a hospital following catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Helicopters were brought in to rescue the 54 people on the roof, a mixture of employees and patients. Ballad Health said just before 5 p.m. everyone had been rescued and all affected patients transferred to another hospital. In an earlier news release, the company said emergency management officials began evacuation efforts at Unicoi County Hospital just before 10 a.m. due to the rapidly rising Nolichucky River nearby. Eleven patients were being treated at the small town hospital. Ambulances were sent to the scene, but they could not safely reach the hospital, which had become surrounded by water.
Boats were then sent to the hospital, but because of the fast-moving waters, were also unable to get there. High winds made helicopter rescue impossible for a time as well.
As of 1 p.m., 54 people were stuck on the roof, as well as seven in rescue boats.
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