Current:Home > Stocks'Dangerous rescue' saves dozens stranded on hospital roof amid Helene deluge -Blueprint Wealth Network
'Dangerous rescue' saves dozens stranded on hospital roof amid Helene deluge
View
Date:2025-04-13 15:39:46
Dozens of patients and hospital staff stranded on the rooftop of an Eastern Tennessee hospital were whisked away aboard rescue helicopters and boats as floodwaters threatened to swallow the building.
The rescue mission at the Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, came early Friday evening, hours after Ballad Health sent out a desparate cry on X that the people at the hospital needed to be evacuated in the face of rising floodwaters from Tropical Storm Helene.
Floodwaters and high winds from the storm prevented ambulances, rescue boats and even helicopters from reaching the hospital, Ballad said, making a rescue mission impossible for hours.
Ballad Health confirmed that by around 5 p.m. all 54 people stuck on the roof had been rescued. Those needing treatment were taken to Johnson City Medical Center.
Unicoi hospital remains closed until further notice. Ballad Health will assess the damage once flood waters recede and provide updates at that time, according to the statement.
The operation came around 8 hours after Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency first warned Ballad about the rising waters. The water lies at the banks of the Nolichucky River near the North Carolina border.
"The hospital has been engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water," the hospital system said at the time. A "dangerous rescue operation" was underway, Ballad Health said in the statement.
Ballad Health said that as of about 12:30 p.m., 54 people were on the roof and seven were in rescue boats. About three hours later, the health system said first responders and the Tennessee National Guard were still working to "evacuate all remaining individuals."
Helene news:Helene wreaking havoc across Southeast; 22 dead; 4.5M in the dark: Live updates
The health system's website said Unicoi County Hospital, in the eastern part of the state, was closed "due to inclement weather," as were some clinics. Other facilities might be operating on a modified schedule and patients and visitors were being urged to call before going to the facilities, whose emergency rooms would remain open.
Local television stations WJHL and WCYB reported that roads accessing the hospital were impassable due to flooding in the area.
As the remnants of Tropical Storm Helene dumped heavy rainfall throughout the Southeastern U.S. Friday, Erwin, Tennessee, was under a flood warning, high wind warning and a flash flood warning, according to the National Weather Service.
(This story has been updated with new information, to change a video and to correct a misspelling/typo.)
veryGood! (381)
Related
- Trump's 'stop
- Macy's layoffs 2024: Department store to lay off more than 2,000 employees, close 5 stores
- Small plane makes emergency landing on snowy Virginia highway
- Real Housewives of New Jersey Star Melissa Gorga Shares Cozy Essentials To Warm Up Your Winter
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- As Houthi attacks on ships escalate, experts look to COVID supply chain lessons
- Jordan Love’s strong 1st season as Packers QB ends with disappointing playoff loss
- Emily in Paris star Ashley Park reveals she went into critical septic shock while on vacation
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Purrfect Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Pets To Show How Much You Woof Them
Ranking
- The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds
- An explosive case of police violence in the Paris suburbs ends with the conviction of 3 officers
- Navajo Nation 'relieved' human remains didn't make it to the moon. Celestis vows to try again.
- Lamar Jackson and Ravens pull away in the second half to beat Texans 34-10 and reach AFC title game
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Texas A&M reports over $279 million in athletics revenue
- Endangered Whale ‘Likely to Die’ After Suspected Vessel Strike. Proposed NOAA Rules Could Prevent Future Collisions, Scientists Say
- Ohio is poised to become the 2nd state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults
Recommendation
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Judge ends suspension of Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr., charged with rape
A diverse coalition owed money by Rudy Giuliani meets virtually for first bankruptcy hearing
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, created to combat winter, became a cultural phenomenon
Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
North Korea stresses alignment with Russia against US and says Putin could visit at an early date
David Oyelowo talks MLK, Role Play, and how to impress an old crush
911 calls from Maui capture pleas for the stranded, the missing and those caught in the fire’s chaos