North Carolina under PHE following Hurricane Helene, IV solutions plant closed

The Department of Health and Human Services Sept. 29 declared a public health emergency for North Carolina due to health impacts from Hurricane Helene after making similar declarations for Florida and Georgia. The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response deployed approximately 200 personnel to North Carolina, including health care situational assessment teams which are assessing the storm's impacts to hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers and other health care facilities, as well as health and medical task forces and disaster medical assistance teams from the National Disaster Medical System.

Among the facilities impacted in the state was Baxter International's North Cove plant, which manufactures 60% of the country's supply of IV solutions, producing 1.5 million bags per day. The facility was flooded and is closed for production while the company continues to assess the damage. The surrounding area suffered damaged roads and a collapsed bridge which leads to the plant.