The New York Yankees have evacuated their minor league and stay-ready players from their spring training facility in Tampa, Florida, as Hurricane Milton approaches the state. George M. Steinbrenner Field, the team’s training complex, will be converted into a shelter ahead of the storm’s expected landfall, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed on Wednesday.
Several Yankees players have homes in the Tampa area. “It’s an uncertain time,” Boone said, addressing the press hours before Game 3 of the American League Division Series (ALDS).
Medical supply shortage worsens after Hurricane Helene
As the hurricane threatens the region, Florida is already grappling with critical shortages of intravenous (IV) fluids, essential for medical treatments in hospitals nationwide. The shortage stems from flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, which damaged a key manufacturing plant owned by Baxter International Inc. in North Carolina. The plant, responsible for approximately 60% of the United States’ IV fluid supply, has been closed for cleaning, further straining the healthcare system.
The shortage of fluids, including saline, dextrose, and sterile water, has led hospitals to ration supplies, postponing surgeries and limiting treatments for critically ill patients. These fluids are used for basic hydration during surgeries, chemotherapy, and life-supporting treatments for premature infants and patients with sepsis.
Hurricane Milton poses further threats
The situation could worsen as Hurricane Milton hits Florida, where another major IV fluid manufacturer, B. Braun, operates a facility in Daytona Beach. The company supplies roughly a quarter of the nation’s IV fluids. On Tuesday, B. Braun employees loaded trucks with medical bags and transported them north in an attempt to avoid potential disruptions from the storm.
Combined, the Baxter and B. Braun facilities account for 85% of the country’s IV fluid production. Experts have long warned that such a high concentration of critical medical supplies in a few facilities leaves the healthcare system vulnerable to natural disasters. The ongoing shortages, now exacerbated by Hurricane Milton, underscore the risks of this over-reliance.
U.S. officials are working to mitigate the supply disruption. According to The New York Times, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved airlifts of IV fluids from Baxter’s manufacturing plants in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and China to help alleviate the shortage. Meanwhile, workers in North Carolina are repairing infrastructure damaged near the Baxter plant to allow the distribution of undamaged supplies.
The American Hospital Association has expressed concern over the impact on hospitals, writing to President Joe Biden earlier this week to request additional support in managing the shortage.
Yankees continue support for recovery efforts
As hospitals struggle with rationing supplies, the Yankees continue to prepare for their ALDS matchup while ensuring the safety of their personnel in Florida. The team had previously donated $1.5 million to Hurricane Helene relief efforts and remains focused on supporting recovery in the region as another storm bears down.
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