Patients and staff were stranded at a flooded Tennessee hospital

More than 50 people were stranded Friday at an eastern Tennessee hospital due to fast-rising water and high winds, after several attempts to airlift them failed during a dangerous rescue operation, Ballad Health officials said.

The high winds and water levels prevented helicopter crews from airlifting patients and staff from Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee, hospital officials said.

Some people were waiting on the hospital’s roof to be rescued.

“The situation at the hospital is very dangerous,” Ballad Health said on X, adding the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and National Guard were engaged “in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation.”

As of Friday afternoon, 54 people were relocated to the roof of the facility and seven were in rescue boats, said Ballad Health, which operates Unicoi County Hospital.

“We’ve been working to have those folks extricated,” said TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan in a Zoom call. He added that the Virginia State Police landed a plane on the roof with evacuations set to begin, and three National Guard helicopters were en route.

The rescue mission comes as Hurricane Helene landed in Georgia, leaving widespread devastation throughout the southern U.S. More than 30 people are confirmed dead and millions are without power and electricity. 

The Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency notified Ballad Health early Friday of the need to evacuate due to rising water from the Nolichucky River, the post read. 

County leaders in Unicoi initially deployed ambulances but unusually high flooding prevented medics from safely approaching, Ballad Health said.