Tennessee hospital floods, forcing 'dangerous' helicopter rescue

ERWIN, Tenn. - Catastrophic flooding from Tropical Storm Helene forced a "dangerous rescue situation" at a hospital in northeast Tennessee.

U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger said Unicoi County Hospital staff and rescue crews in Erwin, Tennessee, were trapped by floodwaters and had to be rescued by helicopter. Friday afternoon, Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty said more than 50 people were safely evacuated from the hospital's roof. 

Hagerty also said there's "more trouble on the horizon for East Tennessee communities."

"Please pray for all of those involved in the rescue and those affected by the weather," Harshbarger said on X.

The hospital said on social media that county officials ordered an evacuation of the hospital Friday morning due to rising water in the Nolichucky River, including 11 patients.

Boats ordered up by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were unable to safely evacuate the hospital, which was taking on flood water, the company said.

The hospital rescue scene (via Virginia State Police)

The hospital said 54 people were relocated to the roof and seven remained in rescue boats as the hospital was engulfed by "extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water."

"The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and TEMA and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation," the hospital wrote, asking for prayers.

A car is submerged in the floodwaters in the Buckhead neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Helene was still wreaking havoc on the Southeast U.S. Friday. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)

At least 30 people in four states have died since Helene made landfall Thursday night along Florida’s central Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm.

Authorities continue to rescue people trapped by floodwaters and millions were without power across much of the southeastern U.S.