Patients and staff at Unicoi County Hospital are trapped on the roof Friday due to flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene.

The Nolichucky River is out of its banks. The flow is faster than ever experienced in the area, nearly 100,000 cubic feet per second. Normal is 500 to 4,500 cfs.

I pray for these people. It was on CNN not long ago. Very scary. They are using helicopters from the Virginia State Police to get people off the building.

There are reports Blackhawk helicopters are being sent from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard base.

Update: reports indicate everyone has been rescued.

bizgrrl's picture

Part if I-40 at the North

bizgrrl's picture

Nolichucky Dam in Danger of

Nolichucky Dam in Danger of Failure.

The dam was placed under Condition Red Warning of Imminent Breach...

According to the TVA, potentially life-threatening flooding could occur as far downstream as Douglas Reservoir if the dam was breached.

A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all residents in South Hamblen County along the Nolichucky River due to the “imminent failure of the Nolichucky Dam” in Greene County according to the Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Medical Service.

Update: The Nolichucky Dam has remained intact, and the river feeding it has begun to recede. A new Flood Warning has been issued for downstream of Douglas Dam.

bizgrrl's picture

The Nolichucky Dam was built

The Nolichucky Dam was built by the Tennessee Eastern Electric Company (TEEC) in 1912-1913 for hydroelectricity generation.

They discontinued power generation in 1972.

They did good work 100+years ago.

fischbobber's picture

Subtle difference

As I watched water overflowing over the top of some of these dams, I couldn't help but wonder when a structure goes from being a dam to being a waterfall.

fischbobber's picture

Asheville is completely cut off.

All interstates in and out of Asheville are closed/washed out. The Asheville Airport is shut down. There is no communication except the occasional wi-fi. Cell service in and out exists in blurbs. Our son was coming home when he got a hold of us and we told him. This is bad.

fischbobber's picture

Asheville Airport reopened.

Most flights cancelled.

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