Biden administration invokes wartime power after IV shortage from Hurricane Helene

Biden administration has invoked wartime power under the Defense Production Act after Hurricane Helene caused an IV shortage.

IV fluid manufacturer Baxter said the rain from Helene damaged its plant in North Cove, North Carolina.

“The pace of recovery at Baxter’s North Cove facility has been very encouraging. Our local team has been tenacious in the face of daunting challenges, as we have advanced from site flooding and inaccessibility to deep cleaning and preparing equipment for restart– all in less than three weeks," Baxter's CEO José (Joe) E. Almeida said in a statement on the company's official website on Thursday. 

"The entire Baxter team thanks our customers for their continuing understanding and patience. And we are grateful for the collaborative support of multiple federal, state and local agencies, all of which fully recognize the vital role of our North Cove site in U.S. healthcare," he added.

According to local news reports, there was limited access to the plant due to the collapse of roadways leading to the plant.

In response to the situation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has invoked the Defense Production Act to speed up the reopening of the facility.