A benefit raising money for relief efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be broadcast Saturday night on CBS and CMT, two divisions of Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS News. The hourlong “United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief” will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and it will also be streamed on Paramount+ with Showtime, Paramount Global and United Way announced Wednesday.

The benefit will feature performances from Clay Aiken, Tyler Hubbard, Chris Janson, Jonathan McReynolds and Brittney Spencer.

The Backstreet Boys, Billy Bob Thornton, Billy Burke, Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Cedric The Entertainer, Cody Alan, Jackson Dean, JB SMOOVE, Kelsea Ballerini, Max Thieriot, “CBS Mornings” co-host Nate Burleson, “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, Taye Diggs and the Zac Brown Band will also make appearances during the show.

The benefit aims to raise money for relief and recovery efforts following the back-to-back storms that wreaked havoc in the Southeast in September and October and killed scores of people.

While Milton raked across the Florida peninsula in early October, Helene moved deep inland after it made landfall in late September, causing catastrophic flooding in North Carolina.

“Paramount Global and its brands are proud to collaborate with United Way Worldwide on the ‘United Way Benefit for Hurricane Relief’ in reaching audiences across the U.S. to help those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton,” Melissa C. Potter, executive director of Content for Change at Paramount Global and a United Way Worldwide board of trustees member, said in a statement.

“I have seen firsthand how United Way rallies local leaders, cross-sector partners and the community to aid people during times of crisis, and the resources raised by this benefit event will help those in need to recover and rebuild,” Potter said.

The benefit was taped Monday and Tuesday in Nashville, Tennessee.

IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene cancels elective surgeries at Mass General Brigham

The Biden administration says it has invoked the wartime powers of the Defense Production Act to speed rebuilding of a major American factory of intravenous fluids that was wrecked by Hurricane Helene last month. Damage to the plant in North Carolina has worsened a nationwide shortage of IV fluids, and hospitals say they are still postponing some surgeries and other procedures as a result. 

Some 60% of the nation’s IV supplies had relied on production from the plant, run by medical supplier Baxter, before it was damaged by the storm.

“Ensuring people have medical supplies they need is a top priority of the Administration. It’s exactly why we are working closely with Baxter to support cleanup and restoration of the facility, including invoking the Defense Production Act to help production resume as quickly as possible,” an official with the Department of Health and Human Services told CBS News on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the federal Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response said the federal government had wielded the act’s authorities to push Baxter to the front of the line for a contractor needed for construction in the plant. ASPR officials are now looking into other ways that the powers might be able to accelerate rebuilding or help other domestic manufacturers ramp up.

The Defense Production Act was previously used by the Trump and Biden administrations to boost manufacturing of items like test swabs, ventilators and vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the factory remains offline, the Food and Drug Administration has greenlighted Baxter to import IV fluids from its other plants around the world. Officials say they are also backing plans to airlift more supplies into the U.S.

“It turns out, a huge part of my time has been taken up, including today, on very basic supply chain issues across every commodity that we regulate,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said earlier this month at a meeting of the agency’s science advisers.

Califf warned shortages were likely to worsen in the coming years, as many generic drugmakers are racing to cut costs amid growing threats to supply chains.

The FDA announced Friday that it had declared three more IV fluids in shortage, adding to an ongoing shortage of other IV supplies now worsened by the closed plant.

“We are seeing shortages and supply chain interruptions, often due to climate change or international strife. And it’s a very combustible mix,” Califf said.

Some hospitals still facing shortages

Baxter says the amount of IV fluids it has been supplying to customers has grown, though several hospitals told CBS News they still do not have enough. Baxter says it is aiming to be back to 100% of its highest demand products by the end of the year. 

“Although Baxter has increased allocations of some fluids, it has further restricted others. One-liter bags of 0.9% saline — our most commonly used fluids — are on back order, with no shipments expected for at least 3½ weeks,” Dr. Jonathan Stallkamp, chief medical officer of Pennsylvania’s Main Line Health, told CBS News in a statement Tuesday.

Stallkamp had previously told CBS News Philadelphia that the system had turned to conservation strategies like relying on Gatorade to hydrate some in the hospital, reserving IV fluids for only the neediest patients.

In Massachusetts, a spokesperson for Mass General Brigham said Tuesday that elective procedures are still being delayed “through at least Wednesday, October 16.” 

That health system has not yet seen an increase in limits on orders from Baxter, though they are awaiting “an additional one-time shipment this week to address urgent concerns.”

“We use in the area of hundreds of thousands of liters of these fluids across our entire system each month, and so even little bits of conservation make a big difference in terms of preserving our supply,” Dr. Paul Biddinger, chief preparedness and continuity officer for Mass General Brigham, told CBS News Boston on Monday.

The University of Virginia’s hospitals are now able to “proceed with most scheduled” elective procedures this week, a spokesperson said, but is still scaling back “procedures with high-volume irrigation fluid use” at the university’s main medical center.

“Any postponed surgeries will be rescheduled as soon as possible once the critical IV supplies become more available,” Eric Swensen, a UVA Health spokesperson, told CBS News.

Conserving IV supplies

Health officials in recent weeks have urged all hospitals to prepare to conserve IV fluids, even if they were not immediately facing a supply crunch. Some major health systems CBS News spoke with said they had avoided a shortfall, but were still carefully managing supplies.

The federal Veterans Health Administration, which operates the country’s largest integrated health system, said it had not identified any cancellations resulting from the shortage.

“VA is closely tracking inventory, shipments, cross-leveling supply between facilities when appropriate, and following general conservation guidance to maximum use of existing supplies,” Veterans Affairs press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement Tuesday.

Spokespeople for the Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai, which operate some of the country’s largest acute care hospitals, said they had not needed to cancel or postpone any procedures. 

The University of Minnesota’s M Health Fairview, which had told CBS News Minnesota last week that it had been forced to reschedule patients, said Tuesday that it has resumed “scheduling all services as usual” as of Friday.

Some hospitals caring for “vulnerable patient populations” are also getting stepped up supplies from Baxter, Children’s Minnesota hospital told CBS News in a statement.

However, the hospital is still taking “extra precautions” to conserve supplies, saying they have yet to receive “the full allocation” from Baxter as it recovers.

“While we have not yet delayed any procedures, this is a serious, fast-moving situation that requires real-time decision-making. Leaders across our organization are meeting daily to monitor the situation and take action,” Children’s Minnesota said.

Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage to Asheville’s famous attraction Biltmore Estate.
The 8,000-acre estate that hosts 1.4 million visitors a year suffered significant damage in some buildings after the hurricane ripped through Western California, as reported by CNN.
“We are still assessing impacts to the estate from Tropical Storm Helene and that will take some time,” the Biltmore said in a statement on Thursday.
The Biltmore Estate, known for housing America’s largest privately owned mansion, reported that the 250-room Biltmore House, winery, conservatory, and hotels “received minimal or no damage from the storm.”
However, low-lying areas on the estate, such as the entrance and farm, faced “significant flooding and damage to buildings.” The Biltmore said, “We sadly lost a few of our animals during the storm, but the vast majority are safe and accounted for.”
The forested portions of the Biltmore Estate, which represent a substantial part of the property, experienced extensive wind damage to the grounds and some structures. “Crews have been working tirelessly to clear roads so we can begin repairs,” the estate reported.
It’s not clear when the estate will reopen, but “Initial assessments indicate the estate will be closed to guests until at least October 15,” the Biltmore said on its website. “We will continue to provide updates about operations beyond that date as they are available.”
Biltmore Estate, located in Buncombe County, has become an unexpected epicentre of death and destruction from Hurricane Helene. As of Friday, at least 72 fatalities have been reported in the county, and approximately 78,000 homes and businesses are still without power, one week after the storm’s devastating impact.
The electricity substation serving Biltmore Village, a popular area just outside the estate, sustained catastrophic damage and will require months for repairs, according to Duke Energy.
“The water line is almost at the top of that substation,” said Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton.
“We can’t leave those customers without power for that long, so we’ve brought in a 200,000-pound mobile substation,” he added.
The mobile substation is expected to be operational by Sunday. “We’re digging new spots for wiring to ensure they are underground and safe,” Norton added.
In Western North Carolina, about 1,05,000 homes and businesses are facing “long-term” power outages due to Helene’s destruction of critical infrastructure.

Newland, North Carolina — At the Mountain River Family Campground in western North Carolina, the North Toe River isn’t the only thing that gushes —customers do too.

“It’s beautiful because you’re kind of nestled in a valley in this campground,” one guest told CBS News.

This week, the remnants of Hurricane Helene turned this slice of heaven into a hellscape.

Suzanne Garland’s family owns the campground. The first time she returned after the storm, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Every building and every bit of infrastructure was erased.

“It just looks like a tornado just ripped everything up and spit it back out,” Garland said. “…I just can’t believe this is real.”

As of Friday, at least 225 deaths across six states have been attributed to Helene, including 114 in North Carolina.

“My heart goes out to everyone who has experienced the unthinkable loss,” President Biden said Wednesday after surveying the destruction across the Carolinas. “But we’re here for you.”

Mr. Biden estimated that recovery and rebuilding efforts in the Southeast will cost “billions of dollars,” and said the federal government will cover all debris removal and emergency protective measure costs in North Carolina for six months.  

“It was just like the campground itself was calling out to us that it was still there,” Garland said. “You know what I mean? Like after all the destruction, the little snippets that we would find, it was just like, it was reminding us, like, I’m still here. Don’t give up on me. Like, rebuild me, come back for me.”

Like many ravaged by the storm, the Garlands’ first inclination was to move. But then, like many, they saw the sunrise, and the morning light worked its magic.

“It was like, a little reminder that in all the darkness, the light will always find a way to push through,” Garland said. “…And I just knew right then and there that we couldn’t walk away from it.”

And the day was about to get brighter still. On their website, old customers and total strangers began reserving campsites. They left comments like, “I know we can’t come,” and “just booking a night to help out.”

Dozens did this, paying for vacations they cannot take.

“And I just feel like we’re so strong and I know that we’ll make it,” Garland said. “I don’t know, it just warms your heart.”

Helene flooding victims, flood insurance

Appalachia native Dolly Parton said Friday she will donate $1 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. 

Parton said the $1 million will go to the Mountain Ways Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing immediate assistance to Hurricane Helene flood victims.

“These are special people here; they’re my people,” Parton said during an event announcing the donation at a Walmart in Newport, Tennessee. “I feel like all people are my people, but everyone here grew up in the mountains just like I did, so of course I have a close connection to them. I can’t stand to see anyone hurting, so I wanted to do what I could to help after these terrible floods.”

The country music icon was born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee to a poor family living deep in rural Appalachia — and Parton has often written about her childhood and the region in her songs, including hits such as “Smoky Mountain Memories” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” 

She was joined by Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner, who said the company, including Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation, would donate a total of $10 million to hurricane relief efforts across the affected states. Parton’s associated businesses, including Dollywood Parks & Resorts and The Dollywood Foundation, also announced they would match Parton’s donation with another $1 million to the Mountain Ways Foundation.

At least 225 people have been confirmed dead after Helene swept through the Southeast, and officials say they expect the death toll to rise as recovery efforts continue. Satellite images showed large areas of North Carolina devastated by the storm. President Biden said Friday the work to rebuild the damage will cost “billions of dollars.”

Parton said she hopes her donations will inspire others to donate and assist in the massive recovery efforts. 

“I hope we can all be a little bit of light in the world for our friends, our neighbors — even strangers — during this dark time they are experiencing.”

Cara Tabachnick

Cara Tabachnick is a news editor at CBSNews.com. Cara began her career on the crime beat at Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports on justice and human rights issues. Contact her at cara.tabachnick@cbsinteractive.com

Embattled Republican North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson — whose gubernatorial bid has been rattled by allegations that he previously posted racist and sexually explicit comments online — was hospitalized with burns Friday, his campaign said.

Mike Lonergan, a campaign spokesperson, said in a statement late Friday night that the 56-year-old Robinson suffered second-degree burns during an “incident at a campaign appearance at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mt. Airy,” a city located near the border of North Carolina and Virginia.

Robinson received treatment at the Northern Regional Hospital in Mt. Airy and was in “good spirits,” Lonergan said, adding that he was expected to resume campaigning Saturday morning. 

No further details were provided on his condition or the circumstances that prompted the injury.  

This all follows a bombshell CNN report last week which found that Robinson posted inappropriate comments to the message board of a pornographic website between 2008 and 2012, often under the name of “black NAZI.”

Since the report’s publication on Sept. 19, Robinson has seen several campaign staffers resign, including his campaign manager, general consultant and senior adviser, finance director, and deputy campaign manager. He has also appeared to lose support among Republican leadership.  

Robinson did not appear with former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, in the two North Carolina rallies Trump has held since the CNN report. And when asked Thursday by reporters if he would pull his endorsement of Robinson, Trump responded, “I don’t know the situation.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, when asked Tuesday if Republicans should halt support for Robinson’s campaign, responded, “It won’t surprise to you know I’m happy that there’s not a Senate race in North Carolina.”

Robinson, however, has so far vowed to stay in the race.

“This is an election about policies, not personalities,” he wrote on social media Wednesday. “Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense.”

Kaia Hubbard and

Kathryn Watson

contributed to this report.