New York Blood Center To Lose Nearly 3,000 Donations Due To The Storm

LONG ISLAND, NY — New York Blood Center is projected to lose nearly 3,000 donations due to the snowstorm, significantly impacting the region’s blood supply for the next week, a spokeswoman said Monday.

The center shut down early on Sunday due to dangerous travel conditions, resulting in the loss of around 700 donations, then on Monday, all blood drives and donor centers were closed. Additional community blood drive cancellations will continue into the week as schools, businesses, and community partners focus on storm recovery.

The center is asking all eligible donors across New York and New Jersey to make a donation at a blood donor center at a convenient time for them, as soon as it is safe for them to travel again, and the travel bans are lifted.

She expected that the blood center would reopen its doors on its regular schedule on Tuesday, if the weather permits.

"Blood is perishable, and recovering from the significant losses caused by this storm will require strong donor participation over the coming days," she added.