$9 million awarded to Ballad Health to rebuild hospital in Unicoi County

FEMA and state officials have awarded $9.8 million to Ballad Health to rebuild a medical center in the town of Erwin that was one of the focal points of September’s hurricane flooding.

Waters rose to 8 feet or more inside Unicoi County Hospital, which was constructed within a flood zone and completed in 2018.

Dozens of workers, volunteers, and patients retreated to the roof of the center and had to be airlifted out while waters of the Nolichucky surrounded the facility.

(IMAGE: Bristol Broadcasting News Archive)