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Gustav and Ike affect local blood supply

New Orleans - In the wake of Hurricane Ike, The Blood Center is asking the community to donate blood.  Due to severe weather conditions, The Blood Center was forced to cancel blood drives on September 12th and 13th, causing a drop in the local blood supply.  Blood banks in Southwest Louisiana and Texas sustained damage, and some are still without power.  These areas helped supply blood to Southeast Louisiana after Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav.

“Extreme weather brings with it a serious threat to the blood supply,” said Blood Center President & CEO Billy Weales. “Although our area was largely spared this past weekend, Southwest Louisiana and Texas were not, and they need our help.  Blood banks in those areas were extremely generous after Katrina and Gustav, collecting blood for us when we could not.  It is time for us to return the favor.”

The Blood Center’s donor centers are open regular hours, although the Galliano Donor Center remains closed due to damage from Gustav.

  •  Tulane University:  Bloodmobile at LBC Quad, Monday September 15th – Friday, September 19th 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Mississippi Gulft Coast Community College: Highway 90, Gautier (Gymnasium) Tuesday, September 23rd 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Super Laborie’s Food Market:  1951 Barataria Blvd, Marrero, Thursday September 18th 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Laborie’s Food Market: 2701 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, Thursday September 18th 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Wal-Mart Houma (West): 1633 Martin Luther King Blvd., Saturday September 20th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Wal-Mart Ocean Springs: 3911 Bienville Blvd., Saturday, September 20th 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Wal-Mart Galliano: Hwy 3162, Saturday September 20th 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • University of New Orleans: Bloodmobile at University Center, Monday September 22nd & Tuesday September 23rd, 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Donating blood is safe, simple and easy, and just one pint can help to save up to three lives.   Donors must be in good health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be at least 17 years of age to donate blood.  The entire donation process takes less than an hour.
The Blood Center is a non-profit community service organization serving over 30 hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi.  For more information, please call The Blood Center at (800) 86-BLOOD or visit www.thebloodcenter.org