Hospital flooded by Hurricane Helene to be rebuilt in another flood plain

February 10, 2026

TL;DR

Unicoi County Hospital, destroyed by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, is being rebuilt for $44 million by Ballad Health.
The new hospital site, located about 7 miles from the old one, is in a flood plain that climate data companies Fathom and First Street predict could flood with over two feet of water during a 100-year flood event.
FEMA's flood maps, which are often outdated and do not account for climate change impacts, do not identify the new site as a flood hazard zone.
Experts suggest the new hospital should be elevated significantly and built to withstand extreme weather, citing American Society of Civil Engineers' standards for 1,000-year floods.
Ballad Health, the sole hospital provider for a 29-county region, faces criticism for choosing a flood-prone site, leaving residents with few alternatives.
The original Unicoi County Hospital was also built in a FEMA-labeled flood zone, demonstrating a history of risky development decisions.

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