Officials call for blood donations in wake of Harvey

Floodwaters fill the road running through the Lakes On Eldridge North subdivision in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP

Tammy Dominguez, left, and her husband, Christopher Dominguez, sleep on cots at the George R. Brown Convention Center where nearly 10,000 people are taking shelter after Tropical Storm Harvey, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. They have been at the shelter since evacuating Houston’s Northside on Sunday. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP

Mike Bialka holds a cigar as he makes his way through floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey to help a friend secure his home Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Kingwood, Texas. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

A man talks with officers at a roadblock less than three miles from the Arkema Inc. chemical plant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Crosby, Texas. The Houston-area chemical plant that lost power after Harvey engulfed the area in extensive floods was rocked by multiple explosions early Thursday, the plant’s operator said. The Arkema Inc. plant had been left without refrigeration for chemicals that become volatile as the temperature rises. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

People wade through chest deep water down Pine Cliff Drive as Addicks Reservoir nears capacity due to near constant rain from Tropical Storm Harvey, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017 in Houston. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP

A man stands in floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey as he waits to board a boat to help look for evacuees Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Kingwood, Texas. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Interstate 69 is covered by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Humble, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Lauren Durst holds onto her ten-month-old son, Wyatt Durst, as they evacuate from the Savannah Estates neighborhood as Addicks Reservoir nears capacity during Tropical Storm Harvey, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017, in Houston. (Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle via AP

In this photo provided by Beulah Johnson, evacuees sit in the bleachers at the Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, after floodwaters caused by Tropical Storm Harvey inundated the facility overnight. Authorities said it’s not clear where the evacuees will go. (Beulah Johnson via AP)

Beulah Johnson via AP

In this photo provided by Beulah Johnson, people inside the Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, are surrounded by floodwaters caused by Tropical Storm Harvey that overcame the facility that was being used as a shelter for those seeking refuge from the storm. Authorities said it’s not clear where the evacuees will go. (Beulah Johnson via AP)

Beulah Johnson via AP

People evacuate a neighborhood inundated after water was released from nearby Addicks Reservoir when it reached capacity due to Tropical Storm Harvey on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Family members hold hands as recovery efforts were underway for a van with 6 family whose bodies were were found in a van at Greens Bayou in east Houston, after Tropical Storm Harvey left the Houston area on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, in Houston. ( Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via AP

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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Officials say the catastrophic flooding from Harvey has increased the need for blood donations.

Virginia Blood Services said in a news release this week that many blood drives have been canceled and donor centers have closed in the affected areas. It notes that with more sustained rain in the forecast, those cancellations and closures are likely to rise.

Virginia Blood Services Executive Director Todd Cahill says donations also dramatically decline across the country around Labor Day because of the holiday weekend.

The release says type O blood donations are the most critically needed.

Virginia Blood Services is a nonprofit that provides blood products and transfusion-related services to Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia.