Where is Erwin, TN? Hospital, manufacturing plant and sites destroyed in deadly flood

Erwin, Tennessee, is among the towns affected by the effects of Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee. Photos and videos of the area taken before and after the flooding of this small town show the devastation to the community

The resulting images, as well as news of the flooding, have put Erwin in the spotlight over the past week. But where exactly is this city on the map? How many people live there? And what actually happened in Erwin?

We have these answers and more.

Where is Erwin, Tennessee?

Erwin, Tennessee is a small town in Unicoi County located on the banks of the Nolichucky River. The city is approximately 120 miles from Knoxville, 250 miles from Lexington, Kentucky and 50 miles from Ashville, North Carolina.

How many people live in Erwin?

According to the 2020 census, Erwin only has a population of 6,000 people.

What happened to Erwin?

The Nolichucky River flooded its banks Friday due to excessive rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Erwin, like many other East Tennessee communities, was nearly engulfed by floodwaters.

The rising tide inundated every aspect of life in Erwin. The city lost power and water and suffered damage to roads and infrastructure.

As of Oct. 1, there have been three deaths in Unicoi County alone, with a total of six in East Tennessee. However, officials expect that number to continue to rise.

What happened at Unicoi County Hospital?

On Friday, a video went viral showing the severe flooding around Unicoi County Hospital. The video shows the Tennessee National Guard and Virginia State Police conducting a helicopter rescue mission to bring more than 50 people to safety.

The people were trapped on the roof of the hospital, which looked like an island amid the violent flooding of the Nolichucky River.

All people were rescued and brought to safety.

‘We were on an island’: First responders recount Unicoi County Hospital’s rescue mission

What happened to Impact Plastics employees?

At least one woman died after a group of Impact Plastics employees were swept away by floodwaters in Erwin on Friday.

The factory workers clung to yellow plastic pipes in the back of a semi-truck for hours. Eventually the truck overturned and at least seven people were swept away by the floodwaters.