US Campuses
Power Outage on Malibu Campus
The Malibu campus experienced a brief power outage this morning. Power is currently back on across campus, but there may be continuing power surges or additional outages throughout the day. Students and faculty may be experiencing challenges with online classes because of this disruption. The University’s WiFi service will be restored shortly. After each power outage or surge, it typically takes about 15 minutes to restore the WiFi service.
The University is actively working with Southern California Edison to determine the cause of the outages.
Remote Classes and Modified Operations Tuesday on Pepperdine’s Malibu and Calabasas Campuses
Weather forecasters are predicting rainstorms for Southern California, which will bring rain to Los Angeles County over the next two days, beginning this evening. The storm is currently predicted to bring up to 1.5 inches of rain at the coast and in the valleys and 2-4 inches of rain in the mountains, with possible thunderstorms and short bursts of intense rainfall.
Because of the possibility of these bursts of intense rain, the National Weather Service has issued a flood watch, its lowest of four warning levels. This warning is for the surrounding burn scar areas for the local fires in the past year, with particular focus on the Palisades and Eaton fires in this area, but also including the Franklin and Kenneth fires. (A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding and advises people to be prepared. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible. More information on the National Weather Service’s flood warnings is available here.) Los Angeles County has put out an associated evacuation warning, meaning people should be aware of the rain event and be prepared to take action if needed at the direction of local authorities. Additionally, the University has prepared the Malibu campus for rainstorms and anticipates the campus will fare well in the storm.
Given the weather forecast, the fact this is the first storm the burn scars have faced in months, and Seaver College is already on Fall break, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the University will shift to remote classes and critical support staffing for the Malibu and Calabasas campuses. Critical support personnel (CSP) should communicate with their supervisors about whether they should report to campus or should work remotely. Classes and operations will go on as normally scheduled at the West LA and Irvine campuses. Any impacts to campus events, including athletics, guest speakers, and performances, will be communicated by event organizers.
Pepperdine officials continue to monitor the situation and are in communication with local agency officials. The Pepperdine community should expect normal University operations to resume on Wednesday and as scheduled, for the remainder of the week at all Southern California campuses. If conditions change impacting Pepperdine, further messaging will be issued.
Drivers should monitor road conditions, drive carefully, and allow for extra travel time as needed. Road conditions may change quickly. Greater Los Angeles road conditions can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com. As changes are announced to roads near the Malibu campus, updates will be made to the Road Conditions Hotline at 310.506.7623 (ROAD).
Pepperdine University Officials Monitoring Oil Refinery Fire in El Segundo
Pepperdine officials are monitoring a fire at an oil refinery in El Segundo, which is visible from the Malibu Campus and may be visible from the West LA Campus. The fire is more than 20 miles from the Malibu campus and more than five miles from the West LA Campus. The fire does not pose a threat to any of Pepperdine’s Southern California campuses.
Safety and Security at Pepperdine University
We are deeply saddened by today’s horrific event at Utah Valley University that resulted in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. As we process and pray for those affected by this tragedy, we want to assure the Pepperdine community that your safety is our highest priority and that the University has resources available for those who need them.
We encourage students who feel they may need assistance to reach out through Housing and Residence Life (HRL) staff and the Counseling Center. Faculty and staff may access counseling services through the Employee Assistance Program by visiting the Health Advocate webpage or calling 866.799.2728. Pastoral care is available from the team at the Hub for Spiritual Life. Contact Tim Spivey, vice president of spiritual life, to make an appointment.
At Pepperdine, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) employs a layered approach to security, with officers on campus and available to respond to emergencies 24/7. Some of the DPS resources are visible, including campus guard booths, uniformed officers, and branded vehicles, while other resources are invisible to the community, such as plain-clothed officers and video surveillance.
Pepperdine leadership regularly follows world events to seek insights into how they may potentially impact our community and how our own response plans can be improved. We also work collaboratively with appropriate law enforcement agencies and government officials to plan for events on Pepperdine’s campuses. Security plans for upcoming events, including the 9/11 Memorial and the Worship Summit, had already been developed. Those plans are being reviewed again and will be enhanced as appropriate. Attendees can expect a visible security presence and staff on-site to provide assistance.
Thank you for your understanding and continued trust as we come together to reflect, to remember, and to worship. In these challenging moments, remember to support and take care of each other. We pray for the peace described in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”For those with questions about emergency response at Pepperdine, please visit the University’s Emergency Information Page or reach out to emergencyservices@pepperdine.edu.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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