Red Cross Responds as Storm Moves Up East Coast

Yet another winter storm is bringing snow and sleet to the eastern half of the country, starting in the southeast today and moving up the Atlantic coastline as the week continues. The American Red Cross is responding across the south and preparing to help additional areas as the storm brings significant ice and snow from the Gulf Coast to Maine.

Red Cross workers opened or supported shelters across the south last night in Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. The Red Cross is working with state and local emergency officials as the storm moves up the coast to respond if needed, with additional relief supplies and disaster workers standing by.

To help ensure patients have needed blood, Red Cross Blood Services workers have moved blood products to hospitals before the storm. Severe winter weather since the start of the year has forced the cancellation of more than 1,000 Red Cross blood drives from coast to coast and this latest storm has already brought more cancellations. The extraordinary number of blood drive cancellations since the start of the year has resulted in about 35,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

From redcross.org.