Years before Hurricane Helene shut down a critical intravenous fluid facility in North Carolina, sparking concerns in hospitals across the country, many common IV fluids were already in short supply in the U.

The aftermath of recent hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Helene, has extended far beyond the Southeast, with hospitals nationwide grappling with a shortage of IV fluid bags.

An IV fluids manufacturing plant hit hard by Hurricane Helene supplied over 60% of IV fluids in the United States. Local hospitals in East Texas are finding ways to meet patients' needs and adhere to protocols to ensure they have IV fluids for emergencies.