Blood Needs are Being Met Following Hurricane Katrina

Although Hurricane Katrina has affected many community blood banks in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, blood supply needs currently are being met in these areas, and there is no extreme need for blood donors.

The Blood Center of New Orleans, which was particularly hard hit by Hurricane Katrina, plans to base its operations in Baton Rouge until its New Orleans facility is rebuilt.

Most blood banks that serve the storm-affected areas are members of America’s Blood Centers, a nationwide network of community blood banks. These blood banks (including Michigan Community Blood Centers) are collaborating to make sure that areas hard hit by Hurricane Katrina will continue to have a strong blood supply until their local blood banks are once again operating normally.

America’s Blood Centers encompasses 76 community blood banks that together collect about half of America’s blood supply and 100 percent of Canada’s blood supply annually. For more information, visit www.americasblood.org.

© Michigan Community Blood Centers