In an otherwise quiet hurricane season, a storm by the name of Florence began speeding toward the U.S., threatening homes, lives and businesses in the East Coast in mid-September.

The news sent the East Coast whirring with fears of life-threatening flooding and storm surges. Authorities reacted by mandating evacuations, and companies — from ports and logistics providers to grocers and manufacturers — quickly activated their resilience plans. In the timeline below, we overview the supply chain effects of the storm.

If you are watching from afar, we urge you to visit the American Logistics Aid Network's website, which details ways to help in the resilience and recovery efforts that will be pivotal throughout the storm.

Hurricane Florence and the supply chain: A timeline

• September 26

  Plaintiffs allege CSX could have helped save 2,000 buildings in North Carolina

  A lawsuit claims CSX could have done more to stem the flooding after Hurricane Florence, and had various opportunities to do so.

• September 24

  Delivery issues jumped 50% as Florence hit

  Data from Convey show the extent of a natural disaster's impacts on logistics service the week of the storm.

• September 20

  FDA says Florence unlikely to cause critical device shortages

  The agency is closely monitoring 10 sites that make critically important devices and biological products.

  Grocers help the Carolinas recover from Hurricane Florence

  Retailers are opening as soon as they are able and stepping up to support relief efforts.

• September 19

  North Carolina ports delay reopening due to Florence damage

  While the storm's immediate threat to most ports has passed, the economic damage could be as high as $40 billion.

  Florence squeezes pharmaceutical supply chains

  Pharmacies, which rely on sophisticated inventory control and cater to local customers, possess few options when massive storms disrupt logistics.

• September 17

  North Carolina ports hit hardest by Florence

  All other affected ports are open today and resuming full operations, as Hurricane Florence has been downgraded to a tropical depression.

• September 14

  Florence keeps ports, carriers on alert as plans shift

  Carriers are shifting or delaying calls as activity in affected ports will cease Friday with most looking to reopen Monday.

• September 13

  As Florence approaches, Pfizer pauses operations at North Carolina plant

  Erring on the safe side, Pfizer is suspending normal operations at the sterile injectables plant ahead of the expected impact from Hurricane Florence.

  Hurricane Florence could cost retailers $700M

  Major retailers like Target and Walmart are bracing for the hit in the Carolinas, stocking some stores with needed supplies while shuttering others.

• September 12

  Credit Suisse warns Hurricane Florence could spike food freight costs

  Even though consumers are stocking up on supplies, the storm could create a challenging headwind for food makers' expenses.

  Outages, coal plant flooding top concerns as utilities brace for Hurricane Florence

  Environmental groups are afraid flooding could release toxic coal ash, but utilities say their bigger worry involves cooling ponds at regional power plants.

• September 11

  Mercedes, Boeing stall plant operations as Florence nears

  Factory closures are necessary for safety but will no doubt cause delays to ripple down the supply chain.

  East Coast ports brace for Hurricane Florence

  Ports are extending hours, but what doesn't make it out tonight stays there through the path of the storm, experts say.

• September 10

  Freight rates react to Hurricane Florence

  Spot rates rose in the weeks ahead of Hurricane Florence, as the need to transport emergency supplies added to demand for vans and flatbeds.

  HOS requirements suspended as Florence heads for East Coast

  State transportation departments are prioritizing trucks to transport emergency supplies as the Category 4 hurricane barrels toward the U.S.