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GREENSBORO — The American Red Cross is issuing an emergency call to help replenish the blood supply. Officials say nationally they are down by thousands of donations.

Officials say the community that donates now, could be the next to need it. It has been awhile since Valerie Leschber made a donation, but as a doctor, she sees how important it is everyday.

“Between traumas, between surgeries, even medical people who are perhaps undergoing treatments, chemotherapy. There's all sorts of reasons why the need for blood arises,” said Leschber.

During the summer months, officials say the need for blood donations remains the same. However they see a drop in donations. This year, donations are down more than usual.

“Blood only lives about 35 to 42 days, about a month. We need that fresh supply coming in at all times to cover the accidents as well as sicknesses,” said American Red Cross Blood Center Coordinator Lu Johnson.

Johnson said officials are working to meet the demand, and that means they need donations.

“But the perfect storm has unfortunately happened since the weekend. With the mid-Atlantic and mid-west region having big storms that has fallen trees and power outages. The American Red Cross sites have been canceled. Our little blood drive numbers are down, where our donors can't come to us,” said Johnson.

In the Carolinas Blood Service Region, officials say they need to collect 1,600 pints of blood a day to meet the need.