As Hurricane Ian reaches Florida and moves throughout the Southeast with dangerous storm surges, winds and flooding, the Northern California Community Blood Bank (NCCBB) is contributing to a national effort to assist Florida blood banks, hospitals, and patients.NCCBB CEO Kate Witthaus says: “You may wonder how a blood donation in Eureka makes a difference in Florida, but it does, especially now”. On Wednesday, the local Blood Bank sent a shipment of blood east to help ensure that the needs of Florida patients will be met.Ms. Witthaus explains: “Our first obligation will always be to the local hospitals of Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, but we see ourselves as part of a larger community as well, so when emergencies impact human beings in other parts of the U.S. and lives are on the line, we have an obligation to help however we can.”This effort is in response to a plea from the AABB Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism, a group working to ensure a safe blood supply in emergencies. The Task Force strongly urges eligible individuals in unaffected areas throughout the United States to make a blood or platelet donation as soon as possible. These donations are essential to maintaining a stable and adequate blood supply in the coming days, as the expected breadth and duration of the storm impacts blood collections and transportation in much of Florida and the Southeast.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');Blood collection organizations throughout the country have already mobilized and are supporting blood collection organizations in Florida with much-needed blood products and are prepared to continue doing so as long as necessary.“We are asking all eligible individuals in areas unaffected by this powerful storm to donate blood or platelets now to ensure that every patient who needs this life-saving resource will have it,” said John Hagins, chair of the Task Force. “There is no substitute for blood and no time to waste. Without these donations, lives could be at risk.”Those interested in donating blood can visit the Northern California Community Blood Bank at 2524 Harrison Avenue in Eureka, or find a bloodmobile at: www.nccbb.org. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });