In what was predicted to be an “explosive” hurricane season, Hurricane Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 storm in Florida. In the days following the devastating storm, at least 130 deaths have been reported. The storm caused widespread damage across the Southern U.S.—mostly in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina—with massive destruction from wind and flooding, leading to power outages and road closures.
In the aftermath, supply chain issues are emerging, and hurricane recovery efforts are underway at the same time as the U.S. dockworker strike, which may create further complications. Baxter International, a healthcare and medical technology company had to close a large part of its plant due to excessive flooding and destruction from the storm surge in Asheville, NC. The facility manufactures IV fluids and peritoneal dialysis solutions, which are critical for kidney patients, cardiac patients and urologic patients.
Even with a plan in place to ensure employees got to safety and supplies were secured, a “levee broke, triggering flooding in the facility,” according to a news brief from Baxter International. As remediation efforts are underway, there could be delay in critical materials being delivered to hospitals that need the support. To help navigate medical supply chain disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene, ECRI, a healthcare quality and safety organization released a guide for healthcare leaders to mitigate the risks of certain supply shortages.
In the tech industry, two North Carolina quartz facilities shut down after Hurricane Helene—impacting the global tech supply chain. These quartz facilities are responsible for making semiconductors, solar panels and fiber optic cables. Semiconductors are also critical for microchips used in smartphones, computers, gaming consoles, and more. These facilities have been impacted by flooding, power outages and communication disruptions.
To help donate to support communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, the Red Cross is accepting donations.
