A blood drive was held Friday in Rockland to help victims of Hurricane Irma in Florida.

The New York Blood Center held the blood drive at the Rockland County Courthouse. Officials say blood centers in Florida were forced to close for days because of the storm, resulting in low supply.

"When there's a catastrophe in the county it increases the need for blood," says Officer Vicky Lee Atkins-Roland, who organized the event. "It's very important to give blood all the time, but we really need it now."