UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. — Around a month ago, dozens of people gathered on the roof of a Unicoi County hospital as deadly flooding swamped the parking lot, lobby and eventually filled the rooms below. They were rescued when helicopters arrived to lift them to safety.
Katherine Bowen said her husband, Jeff Bowen, was one of the dozens of people who found themselves on the roof as Hurricane Helene brought historic flooding.
"He said he saw a house floating," she said. "I had no idea the hospital was in the condition it was in."
Katherine said she had brought her husband to the hospital the morning of the flood. She said after checking him in, she went home to gather necessities.
That's when floodwaters separated them, and she was left with nothing to do but hope he was safe. Katherine was without contact with her husband for a few hours. The hospital said a total of 70 people were rescued from the hospital. Some of them found safety on lifeboats, including Jeff.
"My husband was there with other patients for hours," said Katherine.
She said the hospital is playing a key role in the Erwin community.
"We're not the largest county, but we got a lot of elderly people here," she said.
Katherine has gone back to the area of the flooding and said the hospital remains standing.
"The damage is something I've never seen before," she said.
The Unicoi County Hospital is operated by Ballad Health, which released a statement about the impact the flooding had on the hospital. That statement is available below.
"In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which rendered Unicoi County Hospital unusable after severe flooding that necessitated a rooftop rescue of 70 patients, medical workers and first responders, Ballad Health continues to serve the community with critical healthcare services. To address the immediate needs of residents, Ballad Health Medical Associates launched a 24/7 advanced Urgent Care Clinic in Unicoi County. While we are focused on delivering services now, Ballad Health is also actively assessing plans for the future. We are committed to serving Unicoi County."