BRHS Robotics Team Lost Everything In Hurricane Ida, Needs Community Help To Rebuild

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater-Raritan High School Robotics team is suffering greatly after Hurricane Ida essentially wiped out everything they had in one night. Now the team needs the community's help to rebuild.

"This team lost everything... their meeting place(STS warehouse in Bridgewater that was flooded), all their equipment including all robots, printers, batteries, building materials ... everything," said Manisha Agarwal, a team member of the Robotics Alliance of Mentors and Parents (RAMP).

Since 2011, RAMP has been using the STS warehouse as the base of operations for planning, designing, and building robots for their students.

When Hurricane Ida hit on Sept. 1, a nearby toxic waste ground flooded into the warehouse rendering the facility unusable.

"Millions of dollars worth of machinery, tools, and office equipment accumulated from decades of saving and budgeting have been lost as a result," according to a GoFundMe website started by RAMP.

With the STS facility no longer being feasible as a place to meet, the team is now looking for a permanent space for their students to coordinate a robot build.

A new facility would require new machinery, equipment, furniture, tooling, and various other office supplies. The team is asking the community for donations to help them rebuild their program and continue spreading STEAM education.

"STS was a place of comfort and pride for RAMP’s students. Throughout the years, STS became a place where the team members met significant milestones, from learning how to hold a drill to qualifying for the FIRST World Championship. It was also where the team spent months organizing STEAM-focused events for younger students and coordinating the startup of 12 new robotics teams in their district," according to the GoFundMepage.

"Not only was it where the students spent 10-plus years honing their technical skills and making invaluable memories, but STS was also an anchor for the robotics community. Neighboring rookie teams would occasionally visit the facility for its full-sized practice field," according to the GoFundMe page. "RAMP hopes for the continued support from their community members in order to recuperate their program."

For more information or to donate visit the GoFundMe page here.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.