In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which tore through parts of the southeast US, medical supply manufacturer Baxter International is grappling with the aftermath at one of its critical production facilities in North Carolina that was forced to shut down after it incurred significant damage.
In an update, Baxter said, “The manufacturing site was significantly impacted by the rain and storm surge from Hurricane Helene, which was unprecedented in Western North Carolina and resulted in water permeating the facility.”
The company said while it is working around the clock and with urgency to restore operations, it does not have a timeline for when operations will be back up and running.
Baxter’s North Carolina plant, located near the coast in North Cove and playing a vital role in producing intravenous (IV) fluids and other essential medical products, sustained significant damage after being hit hard by the hurricane. It incurred both structural damage and extensive water intrusion.
According to initial assessments, production at the facility, the largest in Baxter’s global manufacturing network, has been halted indefinitely while the full extent of the damage is still being evaluated.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in the last week of September, bringing torrential rains, high winds and flooding to large swaths of North Carolina.
Related: Baxter Issues Class I Recall for Volara System Circuit and Ventilator Adaptor
In an update last week, Baxter said it had implemented its hurricane preparedness plan, which included evacuation plans for colleagues, as well as proactively moving products to higher ground or secure storage where feasible.
However, the company said the heavy rain and storm surge “triggered a levee breach, which led to water permeating the site.” Bridges to the site were also damaged. Baxter has set up a temporary bridge to support “limited transfers,” with the expectation that a permanent bridge will be installed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the North Carolina Department of Transportation “in the coming weeks.”
In that news release, Baxter CEO José Almeida said remediation efforts were already underway and that “we will spare no resource — human or financial — to resume production and help ensure patients and providers have the products they need.”
He also expressed concern for Baxter employees: “The safety of our employees, their families and the communities in which we operate remains our utmost concern, and we are committed to helping ensure reliable supply of products to patients.”
As Baxter’s largest manufacturing facility in operation since 1972, the North Cove site has around 2,500 employees.
In addition to the plant restoration efforts, Baxter has set up an employee assistance center a few miles from the facility, offering workers access to generators, laundry facilities, showers and essential supplies such as food, water and toiletries. It is also providing on-site counseling services and financial assistance options for employees.
To help with recovery efforts, Baxter shared that The Baxter International Foundation has pledged $1.5 million in donations to support its humanitarian aid partners. This includes additional contributions to the Employee Disaster Relief Fund, along with a $2-for-$1 match for employee donations directed toward relief initiatives.
The North Cove plant is the largest producer of critical IV and peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions in the US.
Federal and state agencies are actively involved in the recovery efforts, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) providing support to affected areas. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also monitoring the situation closely and has begun coordinating with other suppliers and distributors to address any potential shortfalls in IV fluid availability.
According to NBC News, with the recovery timeline for Baxter’s North Cove facility still unclear, many hospitals are already taking measures to conserve their IV fluid supplies.
Healthcare providers such as RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital and Northwestern Medicine in Illinois are among the facilities dependent on Baxter’s IV fluid supply and have begun implementing strategies to address the potential inventory shortage.
A spokesperson from HHS stated that the government is focused on “minimizing supply chain disruptions,” and noted that two other major IV fluid manufacturers are working to increase their production output to help mitigate the shortfall.
Meanwhile, healthcare associations, including the American Hospital Association (AHA), are urging hospitals to conserve supplies and prioritize critical patients as the situation unfolds.
In previous similar instances, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has worked with manufacturers to expedite the approval of imports from overseas facilities to address shortages, and it’s possible a similar approach could be taken in response to this disruption.
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