Some hospitals in South Atlantic states are beginning to recover from the storm damage, flooding and power outages caused by Hurricane Helene.
The Category 4 storm made landfall Sept. 26 in Florida's Big Bend region and disrupted communities across the Southeast. So far, about 240 people have died as a result of the hurricane, NBC News reported.
In the aftermath, systems are mobilizing to reopen hospitals and clinics and provide other services such as mobile units and funds to immediate disaster relief. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has donated $1 million in aid to Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina through community organizations, it said Oct. 1.
Some associations are stepping in to support hospital teams. Medical teams from HHS' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response are supporting hospitals and shelters with medical tents and shelters to support the influx of patients.
Here are 15 updates:
1. Augusta, Ga.-based Wellstar MCG Health is reopening 10 outpatient clinics Oct. 3, though its cancer center, two urgent care clinics and all other outpatient clinics remain closed, according to the system's website.
2. Doctors Hospital of Augusta (Ga.) is reopening its radiation oncology, mammography, wound care and maternal fetal medicine services, but physician practices remain closed. The hospital is also making daily decisions about elective surgeries, according to an alert on its website. Visitors are also restricted to one per patient.
3. St. Petersburg-based HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital will reopen and resume all hospital services, including emergency and outpatient services, on Oct. 2, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
4. Linville, N.C.-based UNC Health Appalachian has 17 outpatient clinics open Oct. 3, but its Elk River Medical in Banner Elk, N.C., remains closed, according to its website.
5. HCA Healthcare's Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., remains without pressurized water and said it could be months before water is restored, NBC reported. The system using more than 20 tanker trucks of water per day to keep clinical operations going. HCA has dug a well at the facility to help provide it with water. Surgeries have been delayed due to a lack of clean supplies and road closures that have prevented staff from arriving for their shifts, Healthcare Dive reported.
6. All 22 hospitals in western North Carolina have had their power grid restored, NC Health News reported. Other state systems have sent mobile clinics to aid with patient needs. Atrium Health's MED-1 mobile hospital, which includes a pharmacy, 14 care beds and a two-bed operation room, opened in Tryon, N.C., Oct. 3.
7. Shriners Children's Hospital Greenville (S.C.) will remain closed through Oct. 6 due to damage from Helene. The hospital is unable to reschedule appointments or surgeries due to technical outages, Fox Carolina reported.
8. Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tenn., suspended operations and evacuated patients after the hospital flooded. It now has a propane leak and will remain temporarily closed until further notice.
9. Boston-based Mass General Brigham is warning of an IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene flooding caused Baxter International to temporarily close. Baxter is one of the nation's largest suppliers of IV fluid. It said it is currently assessing the damage and implementing a plan to resume operations.
10. Only six out of more than 300 hospitals in Florida had to evacuate. Most have since reopened, except for HCA Florida Pasadena, which remains temporarily closed, Health News Florida reported.
11. Officials said that power has been restored to all hospitals in South Carolina, Health News Florida reported.
12. Ballad Health's Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, Tenn., had to evacuate patients on Sept. 27, but has since reopened and started accepting patients again, Health News Florida reported.
13. Valdosta-based South Georgia Medical Center paused elective surgeries while on emergency power, but returned to normal operations Oct. 1, Health News Florida reported.
14. Asheville, N.C.-based The Charles George Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and two of its community-based outpatient clinics canceled regularly scheduled appointments in order to provide more essential and emergency services, NC Health News reported.
15. Clearwater, Fla.-based BayCare Health System created relief funds to support its staff impacted by the hurricane with up to $10 million in funding.