The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center asked South Texas residents this week to donate blood and platelets in the coming days to help replenish its supply.
In a statement, the center said it has sent more than 100 units of O-type blood to help Florida residents who will impacted by Hurricane Milton.
Florida's blood centers are already dealing with large losses of blood supplies because Hurricane Helene damaged facilities, cut electricity needed to preserve the supplies, and disrupted their staffers' personal lives. Blood centers in North Carolina and Tennessee are dealing with similar shortages.
#Milton is the fastest Atlantic hurricane to intensify from a Tropical Depression to a Category 5 Hurricane, taking just over 48 hours. This animation shows Milton as it intensified, with the heaviest rains (red) concentrated near the center. https://t.co/uXpdGH1yEd pic.twitter.com/YWwrpgQcTe
— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) October 8, 2024
“Our neighbors have been affected by Hurricane Helene and it's been very challenging for them. With another hurricane in the horizon, it is best to be as prepared as we can,” said Audra Taylor, vice president of blood operations, in a statement on Wednesday. “If we can all have our neighbors and friends step up, we can help recovery efforts.”
South Texans can help by visiting SouthtexasBlood.org or call 210.731.5590 to schedule a donation. The center said all blood types are needed, especially O-positive and O-negative.
Hurricane Milton continued on its eastward track toward Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday afternoon. The Category 3 storm was forecast to make landfall south of Tampa on Wednesday evening or Thursday.
