Baxter: Hurricane Helene Updates

Baxter’s North Cove manufacturing site was significantly impacted by the rain and storm surge from Hurricane Helene, which was unprecedented in Western North Carolina and resulted in water flooding the facility. Supporting its employees in the impacted communities, bringing the North Cove facility back online and helping to ensure ongoing supply to patients are Baxter’s top priorities.

Employees and Community: All 2,500+ North Cove employees have been accounted for following Hurricane Helene. Employees are returning to work at pre-hurricane staffing levels, working alongside remediation contractors that have been engaged on a temporary basis for site recovery.

Facilities and Infrastructure: Baxter’s progress in restoring the physical facilities has exceeded its expectations in many respects, with meaningful advances in recovery efforts. Baxter’s first temporary bridge has already transported more than 825 truckloads of finished product off site and to customers.

Supply Continuity – Global Manufacturing Network:

  • Baxter has activated nine plants across its global network to help increase available inventory, which is contemplated in current allocation levels.
  • Baxter has received FDA authorization to extend the use dates of 50+ IV and irrigation codes to provide up to an additional 12 months of expiry. Products now have a 24-month expiry period from the date of manufacture. This extension only applies to products manufactured prior to the end of September 2024. Details have been communicated directly to customers.
  • Baxter has communicated to customers its distribution plans for products authorized for temporary importation. It is carefully managing the availability of both previously finished goods coming out of North Cove and the import of product to the U.S., providing specific resources and training to those customers receiving product imported to the U.S.

Learn more on baxter.com.