Thousands of volunteers are ready to help North Carolina's long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene.

Thousands of volunteers are ready to assist in North Carolina’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Helene.

MARION, NC – One of the largest manufacturing facilities for dialysis solutions in the country remains closed following the impact of Hurricane Helene. Officials are monitoring possible shortages across the country after the disaster.

Baxter International, an Illinois-based health care company, said its facility east of Asheville in western North Carolina experienced significant impacts from Helene, with many roads and bridges remaining impassable after the storm.

The company specializes in IV products and dialysis solutions, which make up about 60% of the nation’s supplies, according to the American Hospital Association.

A Baxter representative said that as a result of pre-hurricane planning, products were moved to higher ground and evacuation plans were implemented to minimize the impact on employees and product inventories.

  • Maxar collected new satellite images Wednesday that show some of the aftermath of the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene as the storm tore through North Carolina.

    Maxar collected new satellite images Wednesday that show some of the aftermath of the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene as the storm tore through North Carolina.
    (Maxar Technologies)

  • Hurricane Helene hits North Carolina

    Crews work in downtown Chimney Rock, North Carolina, on October 2, 2024, following the passage of Hurricane Helene. The death toll from powerful Storm Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, has risen to at least 155, authorities said on October 1, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to survey the damage.
    (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

  • TOPSHOT - A local police car is seen half-engulfed in mud in a flooded area of ​​Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, following the passage of Hurricane Helene. The death toll from powerful Storm Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, has risen to at least 155, authorities said on October 1, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to survey the damage. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)

    TOPSHOT – A local police car is seen half-engulfed in mud in a flooded area of ​​Lake Lure, North Carolina, October 2, 2024, following the passage of Hurricane Helene. The death toll from powerful Storm Helene, which battered the southeastern United States, has risen to at least 155, authorities said on October 1, as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepared to survey the damage. (Photo by Allison Joyce / AFP) (Photo by ALLISON JOYCE/AFP via Getty Images)
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  • Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Matty Media LLC)

  • Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Matty Media LLC)

  • Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Matty media LLC)

  • Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Matty Media LLC)

  • Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.

    Aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina.
    (Matty Media LLC)

DEATH TOLL RISE TO 220 A WEEK AFTER HELENE DECIMATES SOUTHEAST COMMUNITIES

More than 200 people were killed and billions of dollars in damage were caused when the Category 4 hurricane made its trek through the Southeast just over a week ago.

A rainstorm that preceded the hurricane set the stage for catastrophic flooding in the western regions of the Tar Heel State, breaking records set in 1916.

Dozens of flash flood emergencies were issued, and rivers such as the Swannanoa and the French Broad set record highs.

Preliminary damage projections from Moody’s Analytics suggest the total impact in North Carolina and around the Southeast could be as much as $34 billion.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Helene,” José Almeida, president and CEO of Baxter, said in a statement. “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 a reliable supply of products to patients. Recovery efforts are already underway and we will spare no resources – – human or financial – to resume production and ensure patients and healthcare providers have the products they need.”

Satellite photo of Hurricane Helene

Satellite photo of Hurricane Helene

(NOAA)

EF-3 TORNADO CAUSES EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A PFIZER MEDICINAL PROCESSING PLANT IN NORTH CAROLINA

According to HealthCare Ready, no shortages related to the hurricane have been reported, and the healthcare company is working with the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services and others to ensure the supply chain is not interrupted.

More than a year ago, a significant tornado rolled through Rocky Mount, a community in the eastern region of the state, and damaged a major Pfizer facility that specialized in sterile injectables.

FOX Weather’s Robert Ray traveled from hard-hit Florida to North Carolina, where residents have described apocalyptic scenes of destruction.

Full production at the plant is believed to have been halted for months, but healthcare experts say the country has avoided widespread supply shortages.

Baxter has not announced a timeline for when operations in North Carolina will resume full production levels, but the company has stated that it is working to restore operations as quickly as possible.