For Release: Immediate  Date: September 11, 2001

Release: #2 Joint Information Center 919-733-2448

RALEIGH - In response to the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the N.C. State Emergency Response Team (SERT) recommends that the best way North Carolinians can help is to donate cash or blood to the American Red Cross.

In an incident of this magnitude, the need to replenish the U.S. blood supply will go on for at least the next couple of months. Governor Mike Easley has called on North Carolinians to help by donating blood. The Red Cross recommends you contact your local Red Cross office to find out when and where you can donate, and to continue donating over the next few months.

American Red Cross:
1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule blood donations
1-800-HELP NOW (1-800-435-7669) for cash donations

At this time, the State of North Carolina is NOT operating a donations hotline. Volunteer disaster response agencies such as the Red Cross are currently meeting the needs.

While donated resources are vital to the many voluntary agencies, community-based nonprofit organizations and local governments attempting to meet the needs of victims, managing donations is necessary to control the flow of goods and services into the disaster areas, officials explained.

Uncontrolled shipments of donated goods could potentially place an undue burden on disaster operations and compete for scarce resources, such as warehouse space, manpower for unloading, and distribution.

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Note to editors: An earlier news release mentioned that Virginia was stopping vehicles carrying hazardous materials at the border. Virginia is no longer doing that. North Carolina is still NOT experiencing any traffic problems on highways throughout the state.

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