Hurricane Helene destroyed this county's only hospital. Now, an urgent care facility is caring for the community.

ERWIN, Tenn. — Healthcare workers in Unicoi County are stepping up to serve their community after flooding from Hurricane Helene destroyed the town’s only hospital. Advanced Urgent Care – Erwin opened in October and has been busy treating patients as crews work to clear debris in the area.

Shirley Lane, a clerk at a pharmacy in Erwin, said she witnessed the devastation firsthand.

“It’s been pitiful,” Lane said. “Seen a lot of people without. Had an aunt and uncle that lost everything.”

During the storm, patients at Unicoi County Hospital were evacuated and airlifted from the roof as floodwaters submerged the building.

“I know a lot of our patients that come here was on the top of the hospital and had to be recovered and rescued,” Lane said. “And it was sad to hear all that.”

Now, a 24/7 urgent care facility staffed by hospital workers and other health care providers is filling the gap.

The facility aims “to continue providing uninterrupted, critical healthcare services to the community following the Hurricane Helene flooding impacts on Unicoi County Hospital,” a statement from Ballad Health said. “Ballad Health continues to assess the healthcare needs of Unicoi County to develop long-term solutions for the future as Unicoi County Hospital remains closed until further notice.”

Lane said the clinic is critical for the community.

“I think it’s a good thing because we have a lot of sickness right now with the colds and the flu and, you know, pneumonia, RSV — I mean, there’s a lot going on,” she said. “We’ve seen a lot of people come in here and if they don’t have somewhere to go in the community then a lot of them are elderly and can’t make it to the urgent cares in Johnson City or the hospital. So, I think it’s a big necessity.”

Nikki Wert, a general manager of the Mr. Zip gas station next door to the hospital, echoed the sentiment.

“I’m glad they actually got something here because a lot of people depend on this area,” Wert said. “People from North Carolina come over the mountain and depend on this area because there’s not much between here and Asheville.”

She saw the devastation as it was happening.

“It was actually very scary. We were watching the water rise,” Wert said.

Her store reopened after seven weeks of cleaning, but the hospital is still closed. Wert hopes that closure doesn’t last forever.

“The hope right now is that they stay in Unicoi as close to North Carolina as possible,” she shared.

Hospital administrators estimate it will take nearly $30 million to rebuild. They expect to announce plans for the hospital next month.