As the east coast recovers from Hurricane Irene, the American Red Cross is appealing to local blood donors to give blood as soon as possible.

The storm and its aftermath have already forced the cancellation of more than 60 Red Cross blood drives, resulting in the shortfall of more than 2,100 units of blood, according to a recent press release from the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross also expects additional blood drives may be postponed in the coming days due to storm damage and power outages.

Since platelets, a blood component, have a shelf-life of just five days, it is imperative that there are enough platelets on hand to meet the needs of patients who rely on this lifesaving blood product, according to the Red Cross.

Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders.  

To schedule an appointment to donate, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information.

Upcoming local blood drives:

Tuesday, Aug. 30:

• Oakland University, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. in the Oakland Center

Wednesday, Aug. 31:

• POH Regional Medical Center, 64 North Saginaw St. in Pontiac. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Bloomfield Apheresis Blood Donation Center, 1605 South Telegraph Rd. in Bloomfield. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1:

• Best Buy Store #949, 2651 Rochester Rd. in Rochester Hills. 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2:

• St. Mark Orthodox Church, 400 West Hamlin Rd. in Rochester Hills. 1-7 p.m.
• Oak Arbor Church, 495 Oak Arbor Circle West in Oakland Township. 1-7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 4:

• St. Paul Albanian Catholic Community, 525 West Auburn Rd. in Rochester Hills. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 6:

• Wright & Filippis, 2638 Bond St. in Rochester Hills. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1039 South Rochester Rd. in Rochester Hills. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Living Word Lutheran Church, 3838 North Rochester Rd. in Oakland Township. 2-8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 7:

• Orion Township Library, 825 Joslyn Rd. in Orion Township. 1-7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 8:

• The Palace of Auburn Hills, 6 Championship Dr. in Auburn Hills. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 9:

• Troy Beaumont Blood Donation Center, 44201 Dequindre Rd. in Troy. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center, 1730 West Auburn Rd. in Rochester Hills. 2-8 p.m.