This message was emailed to all Ballad Health team members on Friday, Sept. 27, at approximately 1:20 p.m. from Ballad Health Chairman and CEO Alan Levine.
At 9:38 am on Friday, Sept. 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 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.
Ballad Health Chairman Alan Levine spoke directly with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Director Patrick Sheehan at 10:20 a.m., and TEMA immediately worked with local emergency management agencies to deploy boats to help evacuate the hospital. Unfortunately, the water around the hospital, which had also begun intruding inside the hospital, became extremely dangerous and impassable and prevented the boats from safely being able to evacuate the hospital. Due to high winds, no helicopters could safely fly in an effort to help evacuate the hospital.
As of 12:27 p.m., 54 people have been relocated to the roof of the building and seven remain in rescue boats. The hospital has been engulfed by extremely dangerous and rapidly moving water. The situation at the hospital is very dangerous and TEMA and National Guard resources are engaged in what can only be described as a dangerous rescue operation.
We ask everyone to please pray for the people at Unicoi County Hospital, the first responders on-scene, the military leaders who are actively working to help, and our state leaders. Ballad Health appreciates the support and effort of Mayors Garland Evely, Patty Woodby and Joe Grandy, each of whom has offered assistance and have maintained ongoing contact with Ballad Health leadership.
Alan Levine
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ballad Health
