Helicopters are currently being deployed to rescue patients stranded on the roof of Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, due to severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
On Friday morning, the hospital was evacuated as rising waters from the Nolichucky River posed a significant threat. However, conditions quickly deteriorated, making it too dangerous for boats to safely evacuate patients. The floodwaters rose rapidly, carrying debris and complicating rescue efforts. Patrick Sheehan, Tennessee’s emergency operations director, noted, “The water there simply came up faster with more debris than was safe to operate in the rafts.”
A total of **54 patients** were relocated to the roof, while seven others remained in rescue boats. Images from the scene showed ambulances nearly submerged in floodwaters and elderly patients being assisted onto lifeboats. By Friday afternoon, Virginia State Police had dispatched aviation units to aid in the rescue efforts, sharing photos of the hospital’s roof with individuals stranded atop it.
In addition to local resources, three helicopters from the Tennessee Army National Guard were sent to assist in the rescue. “That’s a great relief to us in the community, to take care of those Tennesseans,” Sheehan expressed during a Zoom briefing.
Meanwhile, in Florida, over **1,500 search-and-rescue personnel** are working to stabilize affected communities following the Category 4 hurricane that made landfall late Thursday. The storm caused widespread flooding along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Pinellas County, where **five fatalities** have been reported. The storm surge hit an unprecedented **8 feet**, forcing many residents to seek shelter in their attics.
Kevin Guthrie, Florida’s emergency operations director, urged the public to stay clear of impacted areas to allow rescue teams to operate efficiently. He stated, “As those sorts of rescue missions happen today, and continue, please do not go out and visit the impacted areas. I beg of you, do not get in their way.” Reports of rescues include people trapped in homes with waist-high water, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by the storm’s aftermath.