In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene barreled into the Southeastern U.S., becoming the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina. Beyond the storm surge and washed-out roads, Helene delivered an unexpected blow to the nation’s healthcare system.
Flooding devastated Baxter International’s North Cove facility in Marion, N.C., a site that produced about 60% of the country’s sterile IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions. With operations suspended, the nation’s hospitals suddenly faced a shortage of one of their most fundamental supplies.
The Shortage Ripple
The shutdown forced hospitals into triage mode. Elective surgeries were postponed, shipments shrank to less than half of normal volumes, and IV fluids were rationed for only the most critical patients.
Premier, Inc.’s October 2024 survey confirmed what providers were experiencing: more than 86% of healthcare systems nationwide reported shortages, with no region spared. The vulnerability of relying on a single facility became painfully clear.
Hospitals Mobilize and the Federal Response
Systems acted quickly to blunt the impact. Inova Health in Virginia launched a task force, building dashboards to track consumption. Advocate Health, based in Charlotte, N.C., issued conservation protocols that cut IV use by more than 50% across many departments.
The common thread was rapid coordination and clinician engagement. Hospitals leaned on data, altered workflows, and built consensus to stretch limited supplies without compromising safety.
The federal government stepped in with emergency measures. Invoking the Defense Production Act, officials prioritized resources for Baxter and restored bridge access to the damaged site. The FDA granted temporary clearance for Baxter to import IV fluids from its facilities in Canada, Ireland, China, the U.K., Mexico, and Spain. Other manufacturers boosted output to help stabilize supply.
These interventions provided temporary relief but emphasized the risk of concentrated production.
Recovery, Resolution, and a Push for Resilience
By February 2025, Baxter reported its North Cove plant had returned to full capacity. Inventory levels were rebuilt by spring, and by August, the FDA declared the nationwide shortage of IV and saline solutions resolved.
As Katie Korte of Vizient noted to HPN last December, the lesson is clear: resilience requires knowing which supplies are most critical and ensuring they remain accessible when disruption strikes. Hurricane Helene turned a natural disaster into a supply chain wake-up call, and the U.S. healthcare system is still reshaping itself in response.
Building Strength from Crisis
Hurricane Helene exposed how quickly a natural disaster can turn into a national healthcare emergency when critical supplies hinge on a single point of failure. While Baxter’s recovery and federal intervention restored stability, the shortage accelerated the need for deeper reform. Diversified sourcing, onshore capacity, transparent data sharing, and proactive conservation planning are essential safeguards.
The storm passed, but its lessons remain. Resilience must be designed into the healthcare supply chain long before the next disruption arrives.
