GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As Florida residents are dealing with Hurricane Ian, people in northeast Wisconsin are springing into action.
Many organizations are doing their part to send help and resources.
The Community Blood Center in Grand Chute has been receiving requests for blood from Tampa and the West Coast of Florida.
“What we are doing and are prepared to do is to send blood as soon as the airports open and overland transportation is available,” says Community Blood Center VP of Operations, Kristine Belanger.
Florida blood centers are closed for donor and staff safety.
“For a patient who is being treated for a cardiac condition or cancer treatments or any kind of trauma, there is no substitute; blood is perishable,” says Belanger.
Belanger tells FOX 11 Florida is requesting hundreds of donations.
“There is not a stockpile of blood anywhere. We have made a plea to all of our regular blood donors that if they do not have an appointment scheduled to please schedule one.”
Other organizations like Wisconsin Public Service are doing what they can to help.
“At this time, we have released our contract crews from their normal work assignments to be able to head down to Florida and assist with restoring power after Hurricane Ian moves through,” says WPS Spokesperson, Matt Cullen.
So far, no WPS crews have been requested, but they have released 75 contracted lineworkers.
“We do realize that it is very possible that we may receive a request for our crews to be able to head down there,” says Cullen.
Wisconsin Red Cross locations including Green Bay, Milwaukee and Madison are also sending several volunteers to Florida.
An American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle from Green Bay will be making its way to Florida to help with hurricane relief.
Two volunteers, Dennis and Lynn Marquardt, will be driving the ERV from Green Bay to Florida, beginning today.
They will provide food and water as well as emergency supplies to those facing Hurricane Ian.
Three Wisconsin ERVs and six volunteers from Northeast Wisconsin will be deploying to Florida in the next few days. Five Northeast Wisconsin volunteers are already there.
