## Helicopter Rescues Continues for Dozens Stranded on Tennessee Hospital Roof Amid Floodwaters

A perilous rescue mission is unfolding at Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, as more than 50 individuals found themselves trapped on the hospital’s roof due to the surging floodwaters caused by Hurricane Helene. The rescue efforts have seen a steady stream of helicopters transporting the stranded to safe locations in the city, according to Michael Baker, Erwin's alderman.

"Most of those trapped have now been airlifted to safety," Baker reported to CNN on Friday afternoon. However, a small number of people remain on the rooftop awaiting rescue.

The healthcare organization Ballad Health, which operates Unicoi County Hospital, revealed in a post on X that the hospital needed to be evacuated as of 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday. Due to flooding and severe winds, initial attempts to reach the hospital with ambulances and helicopters were thwarted.

A total of 54 individuals, including 11 patients, were moved to the roof, while seven others were placed in rescue boats as part of the evacuation plan, Ballad Health outlined in its statement. However, swiftly rising and dangerous floodwaters rendered rescue boats ineffective in safely evacuating the remaining individuals.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard have been mobilized to address what they describe as a "dangerous rescue operation," aiming to save the lives of those still stranded. Several helicopters continue to coordinate the extraction of hospital staff and patients from the roof.

"This is a critical situation," Baker emphasized. "The water rose so quickly; we realized we had to act fast to secure everyone's safety. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported so far, but the danger is still very real."

Unicoi County Hospital, a nonprofit institution with just 10 beds, now finds itself amidst a rapidly escalating flood crisis. Hurricane Helene, now downgraded to a tropical depression, has claimed at least 25 lives and caused widespread flash flooding across the Southeast after its impact as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida. Millions are without power, homes have been devastated, and numerous roads are impassable.

As of Friday afternoon, around 1.1 million people remain under severe flash flood emergencies, the most critical level of warning issued by the National Weather Service, indicating catastrophic flooding and severe threat to human life.