Overview

• The JAMA analysis finds nearly two-thirds of U.S. drug facilities sit in counties with recent major disasters, based on FDA and FEMA data from 2019–2024.
• California, Florida and North Carolina host the largest numbers of facilities in disaster-declared counties, underscoring geographic concentration.
• Researchers say climate-driven events threaten the full pharmaceutical chain—from active ingredient production to packaging—and call for targeted mitigation.
• After Hurricane Helene flooded Baxter’s North Carolina IV-bag plant that supplied about 60% of U.S. hospitals, the company restored output and the FDA says shortages have now resolved.
• Policy discussions continue as the U.S. imports roughly 40% of finished drugs and 80% of API components, and the study notes limited data on how often disasters lead to shortages.