Atlanta, GA
Hurricanes worsen IV fluid shortage at metro Atlanta hospitals
IV fluids in short supply after hurridanes
Hurricane Helene has plunged supplies of IV fluids into critical levels. One major metro Atlanta hospital is rationing its supply after it says they got less than half of their normal shipment.
ATLANTA – Hurricane Helene has caused a critical shortage of intravenous (IV) fluids in metro Atlanta, with at least one major hospital rationing supplies after receiving less than half of its usual shipment.
Children’s Hospital of Atlanta reported that its most recent delivery included only 40 percent of its normal supply. The hospital has instructed doctors to conserve IV fluids as much as possible without risking patient safety, following damage to a Baxter manufacturing plant in North Carolina, which produces about 60 percent of the nation’s IV fluids.
“Hurricane Helene hit supply levels hard, including here in Atlanta,” said Dr. Cecil Bennett of Newnan Family Medicine. “IV fluids are absolutely critical in an emergency situation.”
The shortage has raised concerns among medical professionals, including Dr. Bennett, who fears the situation may worsen before improving. “People sometimes come in with severe dehydration and need IV fluids, suffering a heart attack or a stroke may have a low blood pressure and need immediate IV fluids,” he explained.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized shipments from overseas to help meet the demand. However, Dr. Bennett warns that smaller practices, like his own, may face further difficulties. “I may not be able to get them in my practice, because my supply has to go up to the emergency,” he said.
Bennett also emphasized the need for the healthcare system to reconsider its approach to inventory management. “I really believe that the healthcare system needs to reevaluate, right now, inventory approach, because they’re going to be shortages of other critical drugs in the future when we have these disasters.” he said.
In a memo to staff, Children’s Hospital of Atlanta stated that it expects another shipment from Baxter next week. Baxter has projected that it will return to 100 percent of its normal supply by the end of 2024, though it may take longer for national levels to recover.
Dr. Bennett expressed hope that the current crisis serves as a wake-up call for the medical community. “I would predict that in the future, this is going to happen more than not and this should be a wake-up call that we should actually look at all drugs that are critical and make sure we have surplus and not continue with this right not inventory approach.”
Caitlin Clark and Stephanie White exchange breakdown
USAT’s Meghan Hall breaks down the recent exchange between Fever star Caitlin Clark and HC Stephanie White during their loss against the Portland Fire.
Sports Seriously
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever continued their 2026 WNBA regular season with a 83-71 win against the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, June 4.
Clark, a former Iowa women’s basketball star, and the Fever are 5-4 after the first nine games of the regular season.
Here’s a look at how Clark fared in Thursday’s game in Atlanta:
Caitlin Clark stats today in Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream
- Minutes: 31
- Points: 17
- Rebounds: 7
- Assists: 8
- Blocks: 1
- Steals: 0
- Turnovers: 3
- Fouls: 4
- FG shooting: 6-for-17
- 3-point shooting: 2-for-8
- Free throws: 3-for-4
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever upcoming games
- June 6: at New York Liberty, 7 p.m. CT, CBS
- June 8: at Washington Mystics, 6 p.m. CT, Peacock and NBC Sports Network
- June 11: vs Chicago Sky, 6 p.m. CT, Prime
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Metro Atlanta, clear your calendars and get your First Alert Traffic alerts ready: Interstate 285 is about to disappear for the weekend — again.
The Ga. Dept. of Transportation (GDOT) plans to completely shut down both directions of I-285 on the Westside between SR 139/MLK Jr. Drive (Exit 9) and Cascade Road (Exit 7) for a full weekend of work tied to the massive I-285 Westside rebuild.
This is the second of multiple full closures for the I-285 rebuild.
When it happens
- Start: 7 p.m. Friday, June 5
- End: 5 a.m. Monday, June 8
Translation: If you normally “just hop on 285 real quick,” you won’t.
Why is I-285 closing
GDOT says crews need the uninterrupted time to keep the project on schedule, doing work like milling/grinding pavement and prepping for slab repair and replacement. The broader project covers about 10 miles, costs $206 million, and is slated to wrap in 2028.
The ripple effect: traffic won’t stay contained
GDOT warns the closure could trigger region-wide slowdowns, with congestion expected on:
- I-20
- I-75/I-85
- SR 166 (Langford Parkway)
- Local roads across southwest Atlanta/Fulton County
Detours (aka: the official “good luck” routes)
- Southbound I-285: Exit to I-20 (exit 10A) to I-75/I-85 southbound
- Northbound/westbound I-285: Exit to SR 166/Langford Parkway (exit 5)
One big wildcard
Weather. If conditions aren’t safe or workable, GDOT says the schedule could change.
Past stories
- I-285 closure slows traffic, hurts businesses along Cascade Road in Atlanta
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