Unicoi County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Ballad Health has taken a major step toward restoring hospital services in Unicoi County, announcing Wednesday the purchase of 15 acres of land that will become the future home of a new Unicoi County Hospital.
The $2.5 million property purchase comes nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated the region in September 2024, destroying the county’s only hospital and leaving the community without a full-service medical facility.
The land, located just off Interstate 26, was purchased from Sue Jones and the estate of the late Carl Jones, parents of Tennessee State Representative Renea Jones.
Site Chosen for Safety and Accessibility
Ballad Health leaders said selecting the right location was critical following the catastrophic flooding that forced the closure of the previous hospital.
Lisa Carter, president of Ballad Health’s Southern Region, said officials spent months evaluating sites throughout Erwin and Unicoi County before identifying the property.
“We searched all around the county and the city of Erwin trying to come up with a good location to build a hospital,” Carter said.
She explained the search was complicated by the county’s mountainous terrain, railroad crossings and limited flat land suitable for development.
The selected property offers several advantages, including proximity to Interstate 26, easy access for emergency vehicles and patients, and a location outside active flood zones. Carter said the site carries a 500-plus-year flood rating and includes two separate access and exit routes.
Lessons Learned From Hurricane Helene
The new hospital project is being shaped by the lessons learned during Hurricane Helene.
The former Unicoi County Hospital, located along the Nolichucky River, was overwhelmed by floodwaters when the river surged out of its banks during the historic September 2024 flooding event.
During the disaster, 54 patients and staff members became trapped on the hospital roof and were rescued by helicopter. The facility was ultimately deemed unsafe and permanently closed.
Carter said preventing a similar situation was a top priority in selecting a new location.
“We don’t see any issues with flooding,” Carter said. “The site will be pushed back away from the rivers and streams, obviously back from the interstate a little bit, and so it will be 500-plus-year flood plane.”
Officials also emphasized the importance of having multiple evacuation routes.
“One of the things we felt was very important was to have two egress points,” Carter said. “That is an addition that wasn’t present at the previous site that we recognized we definitely needed if for any reason we needed to evacuate the facility.”
New Hospital to Mirror Previous Facility
Ballad Health says the replacement hospital will closely resemble the former facility and will continue providing essential healthcare services to county residents.
Plans call for:
- 10 inpatient beds
- A full emergency department
- Outpatient services
- Diagnostic imaging services
- MRI capabilities
Construction costs are estimated at approximately $26 million. Ballad Health expects funding assistance through FEMA and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, or TEMA.
Commitment to Rebuild
Carter said Ballad Health never considered abandoning plans to replace the hospital.
“We never wavered from the commitment to rebuild,” Carter said. “It wasn’t a matter of if, it was always a matter of when.”
She noted that rural hospitals often serve as more than healthcare facilities, acting as economic drivers and community anchors.
“Hospitals are truly a hub of care and a hub of hope in a lot of our rural communities,” Carter said. “That’s why we’ve been committed the entire time to ensuring that we were able to rebuild this hospital because it’s important for businesses, it’s important for families.”
While construction plans move forward, Ballad Health continues operating an advanced urgent care center near Unicoi County High School to provide healthcare services to residents.
Groundbreaking Planned
Ballad Health will officially kick off the project with a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the future hospital site.
A community picnic will follow from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The event will be open to residents, local leaders and project partners as the county celebrates the return of hospital services.
