October 2, 2024- Hurricane Helene has caused Baxter International to temporarily shut down production at its McDowell County facility, in North Carolina, due to flooding, according to Business North Carolina. The plant, near Marion, is the largest manufacturer of intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions in the U.S., and Baxter’s largest factory.
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The company is currently assessing damage and working on plans to resume production. Before the storm began, Baxter implemented its hurricane preparedness plan, including employee evacuation plans, moving products to higher ground or secure storage, and communicating with customers to manage inventory and implement a protective allocation process to support supply continuity.
The heavy rain and storm surge triggered a levee breach, which led to water permeating the site. Bridges accessing the site have also been damaged, according to Baxter and Business North Carolina.