Flood mitigation efforts had lengthy been made in and across the stadium. After Hurricane Floyd devastated neighboring Sure Brook’s downtown in 1999, the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers constructed infrastructure — detention reservoirs, levees and pumping stations — to forestall related catastrophic flooding.
However these plans faltered round 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 1. In Sure Brook, a floodgate couldn’t open as a result of New Jersey Transit prepare 5451 had stalled on its monitor. In Bridgewater, Kevin Finnegan, a special-needs worker who works upkeep on the stadium, was residence along with his mother and father when one of many partitions within the household’s basement gave method to the storm surge. The water rose to the steps of the second flooring, and the household misplaced each of their automobiles. Their home is uninhabitable.
“It’s insane how harmful it was,” Iwicki stated.
Reduction adopted. Kevin Reese, the participant growth director for the Yankees, and Nick Avanzato, the franchise’s minor league operations supervisor, flew up from Tampa, Fla. to stroll gamers and employees by way of insurance coverage claims, organize for rental automobiles and supply monetary help. A GoFundMe web page was began for the Finnegans, and Chuck Hodgdon, proprietor of Stadium Graphics, drove down from New Hampshire to assist piece the outfield wall again collectively. Interns and executives labored alongside caterers and the development crew that had already been on web site doing renovations.
Every thing was energy washed, together with the grass to make sure mud didn’t suffocate it. Every seat was hosed down, then hand washed and hosed down a second time. Purner and his crew triple-checked the sphere to verify there have been no comfortable spots. One of many final steps was shopping for new resin luggage, which pitchers are allowed to make use of throughout video games for higher grip on sweaty nights, as a result of the regulars have been all soaked. Earlier than first pitch on Friday — 9 nights after Ida’s go to — Purner returned to his typical laments.
“A few of my mow strains have been somewhat crooked,” he stated.
By then, there have been few indicators that any flooding had occurred, and it was not till the late innings {that a} musty odor wafted by way of the stands after the wind modified instructions. Earlier than the ninth inning, the general public handle announcer famous that there could be no fireworks after the sport as a result of the launch space was inaccessible within the wake of the storm. Lastly, within the backside of the twelfth inning, outfielder Michael Beltre sliced a double the other method to left-center area to drive within the successful run, and his Patriots teammates sprinted from the house dugout to mob him close to second base. Three gamers carried separate coolers and doused Beltre, and the sphere, with ice water.