WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- Hospitals and medical centers around the DMV region are on alert as critical medical supply stock, like IV fluids, are limited. The limitations come after the medical manufacturing supply chain took a big hit when Hurricane Helene moved through North Carolina nearly two weeks ago. PHOTOS: Helene brings flooding, damage as storm barrels ahead One of the nation's largest producers of IV fluid, Baxter International, suffered storm damage. That one factory manufactures about 60% of the nation's supply, according to a report from the Associated Press. Meanwhile, Braun Medical's IV fluid plant in Florida said it was spared when Hurricane Milton moved through overnight Wednesday into Thursday, with plans to restart production Friday. DMV-area hospital systems are working to mitigate the effects of the shortage DC News Now obtained emails sent to staff at Children's National Hospital in D.C. earlier this week which directed staff to use smaller bags of fluid when possible, encouraging discussion on when it's right to stop the use of fluids and explained the new criteria for fluid use to families of patients there. UVA Health confirms some of its hospitals, in Culpeper, Haymarket and Manassas, are pushing some procedures this week back to conserve IV fluid supply to make sure there's enough for urgent and emergency procedures and treatments. How to help victims of Hurricane Helene One of the area's largest health systems, Inova, said it has cut back on its IV fluid usage across its five hospitals by 50% over the last 8 days. "We've focused on our biggest areas of utilization, historically, emergency rooms, operating rooms, procedures, and hospital floors. We've looked at where can find creative alternatives... like taking things by mouth instead of an IV," said Dr. Sam Elgawly, Inova's chief of resource stewardship. He said Inova has not had to cancel or reschedule elective or non-urgent procedures. Meanwhile, the University of Maryland Medical System said it has implemented a supply chain disruption task force to make sure it has critical supplies in stock during this shortage. Elgawly said Inova, and just about every other health system impacted by the shortage, are working hard to find and secure additional stock. "We are foot on the gas, full speed ahead on the demand side and being good stewards of the resources we have and the reduced allocation we continue to get," Elgawly said. "Whatever avenues there are to get additional solutions, those avenues are bring pursued." Helene death toll rises while supplies are rushed to North Carolina; Florida digs out MedStar oversees both Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital in D.C. "We are currently working on alternative sources for our IV saline supply and are actively conserving where possible, saline products used in patient care. There has been no disruption in services we provide for our patients and we continue to monitor the situation closely," a spokesperson for MedStar said in part in an email to DC News Now. Baxter International said it is working to send out the remaining IV fluid supply that is ready to go. The American Hospital Association said it could be the end of the year before the plant is close to 100% manufacturing capacity.