The Vital Role of Large Health Systems in Disaster Recovery: Lessons from Helene

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage across the southeastern United States, including the mountainous areas of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, blocking health care access for many residents and interrupting the supply of necessary intravenous (IV) fluids to hospitals nationwide. In response to the storm, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health quickly implemented disaster response strategies to ensure timely patient care and delivery of essential supplies to communities in need. The health system’s response included deploying a wide range of air- and ground-based health care services to affected communities, coordinating closely with local, state and federal disaster response agencies and developing innovative resource management solutions that minimized the impact of the national IV fluid shortage. Advocate Health’s multifaceted response to Helene demonstrated how a large-scale health system can effectively leverage its extensive resources to address critical needs in communities affected by natural disasters.