Hurricane Helene is continuing to wreak havoc in the United States, leaving an enormous path of destruction across Florida and the southeastern US. The Category 4 hurricane has claimed at least 56 lives till now, with officials fearing more victims likely to be reported in the coming days.
It also snapped towering oaks like twigs and torn apart homes. Rescue teams launched intense missions to save the lives of people from floodwaters.
Amid the treacherous destruction, harrowing footage of hospital staff and patients stranded on the roof of a flooded hospital during strong flood water Has surfaced. According to ABC News, more than 54 people were trapped on the roof of the Unicoi County Hospital, located in the northeastern part of Tennessee. The situation erupted after a nearby river burst its banks.
The report further stated that ambulances immediately evacuated several patients, however, the flooding was so rapid that the ambulances failed to approach the premises to evacuate the staff.
The National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) are currently involved in a dangerous rescue operation, informed Ballad Health, a healthcare company that runs a chain of hospitals.
Sharing a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ballad Health said that it received notice from the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency at around 9:30 AM on Friday, September 27. The notice mentioned the need to evacuate Unicoi County Hospital due to unusually high and rising water from the Nolichucky River.
“Ballad Health’s Chief Medical Officer for the region was immediately on-scene to supervise the evacuation, and the evacuation of 11 patients commenced. Unicoi County leaders deployed ambulances, however, the flooding of the property happened so quickly the ambulances could not safely approach the hospital,” the post added.
At 9:38 am on Friday, September 27, Ballad Health received notice from the Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency of a need to evacuate Unicoi County Hospital due to unusually high and rising water from the Nolichucky River. Ballad Health’s Chief Medical Officer for the region…— Ballad Health (@BalladHealth) September 27, 2024
The post further mentioned that the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) immediately coordinated with local emergency management agencies to deploy boats to assist with the evacuation. However, water began intruding inside the hospital, creating an extremely dangerous and impassable situation that prevented boats from reaching the hospital.
“Due to high winds, no helicopters could safely fly in an effort to help evacuate the hospital,” the post added.
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