Latest Event Updates

Monitoring Weather and Road Conditions

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The University is monitoring weather and road conditions in Malibu and surrounding communities. Current weather forecasts call for some rain in the area between Saturday and Monday. As would be expected, officials are monitoring the areas recently burned by local fires. 

The National Weather Service has issued its lowest level flood notice, a Flood Watch, which does not mean flooding is expected, but rather conveys that flooding is possible in isolated areas. The Malibu campus is well-prepared with no safety concerns. University officials and state fire experts have reviewed conditions on the Malibu campus and indicate a low probability of challenges.

Local officials may take proactive steps in advance of this rain, which could include temporarily closing Malibu Canyon Road. While not usual for a small amount of rain, this could occur because the Franklin Fire previously burned some areas in Malibu Canyon last month. Typically the closure of Malibu Canyon Road would not by itself signal a change to campus operations. 

However, at this time, with Pacific Coast Highway south of campus closed, if Malibu Canyon Road is expected to be closed on Monday, the University will move to a remote learning model and critical support staffing. The University will communicate the status of Monday’s operations and classes by 7 PM on Sunday evening.  

University events planned to occur on the Malibu campus this weekend will go on as scheduled. Attendees should monitor road conditions and allow for extra travel time as needed. Athletic events updates will be posted on the University Athletics website.

For the most up-to-date information on roads near Pepperdine’s Malibu campus, please call the Road Conditions Hotline at 310.506.7623 (ROAD). Greater Los Angeles road conditions can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com.

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.

Pepperdine Monitoring the Hughes Fire Near Castaic Lake

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University officials are monitoring the Hughes Fire near Castaic Lake, which is located approximately 30 miles north of the Calabasas campus. The fire does not currently pose a threat to Pepperdine’s Calabasas or Malibu campuses. The fire has burned 3,400+ acres, is moving towards the southwest, and has caused a closure of the 5 Freeway nearby the area of the fire.  

Please be advised of the following:

  • Community members whose homes are affected by the fire or road closures should follow the directions of their local governmental agencies and discuss the situation with their supervisors or professors for accommodations as needed.
  • The Watch Duty app has the latest information on the fire and the Genasys system notes which zones are under evacuation warnings and orders.
  • The latest information from Pepperdine’s EOC is also available on the University’s Emergency Information Page.

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.

Emergency Operations Committee Closing

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The winds predicted for today were less intense than initially forecasted, and the Red Flag Warning will expire at 10 PM this evening. Experts note a chance of light rain this Saturday but do not have concerns about potential slides in burned areas. 

This will be the last update message on these fires, as the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) is concluding its response efforts, transitioning the University back to regular leadership structures. Though the EOC is closed, Pepperdine continues to support recovery efforts in the Malibu area as well as members of the Pepperdine community who have been impacted by the fires. To learn more about these efforts please visit Pepperdine’s Wildfire Community Support webpage. 

To address common questions, responses have been added to the University’s Emergency Information webpage, along with links to additional information as appropriate. 

Thank you for your cooperation, flexibility, and partnership as the University navigated the most recent fires including the Palisades, Kenneth, and Eaton Fires.

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.

Palisades Fire – FAQs

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  • With all of the recent fires, is Pepperdine’s campus safe from future fires?
    • The Malibu campus is a safe place. The university constructs our buildings and installs landscaping with fire considerations in mind. We also are celebrated by first responders for our extensive brush clearance and fire preparation. The University also employs wildland fire certified personnel on our public safety team.

      Additionally, because the Franklin fire burned much of the brush surrounding the Malibu campus, the campus has a buffer resulting in much less possible fuel surrounding the campus.

      If a wildfire were to impact the Malibu Campus, the University has significant and tested plans in place to address such a situation. The EOC may activate its shelter in place protocol, in which the University community will be directed to stay on campus and move to the Tyler Campus Center (TCC) and/or Payson Library. This shelter in place plan is approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. 
  • With the recent fires, is air quality on campus unhealthy?
    • No, air quality on campus is not unhealthy. The University regularly monitors various sources of information related to air quality including:
      • The South Coast Air Quality Management District who are officially charged with reporting on air quality in our area.
      • IQAir and Purple Air use similar sensors supported by local users to provide air quality data. 
      • Its own air quality testing conducted by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
    • Additionally, the Palisades Fire did not burn near the Malibu campus, and the smoke column from the fire was blown out into the Pacific. 
  • What are the current road conditions leading to the Malibu Campus? 
    • Individuals looking for information on the roads leading to Pepperdine’s Malibu Campus are encouraged to call the ROAD-Hotline – 310.506.ROAD (7623) which is updated frequently.
    • Current road closures include:
      • PCH south of the Malibu campus is closed between the Malibu Pier and the McClure Tunnel.
      • Malibu Canyon, Kanan Dume Road, and PCH north of the campus are all currently open.
  • Given the recent fires, is there a greater potential for rock or mud slides following rainstorms?
    • Subject-matter experts recently surveyed burned areas on and around campus following the Franklin fire, concluding that in typical storms expected in the area, the Malibu campus falls in the a low-risk category for damaging or dangerous rock or mudslides during the rainy season. The University will continue working closely with its partners to ensure safety and advise the University community of any changes.  
  • I have been personally impacted by the fires, where can I go for help from Pepperdine?
    • The university wants to stand alongside any of our community members who have been impacted by the fires, and will provide personalized service to each person in need. Students, faculty, and staff can visit Pepperdine’s WIldfire Community Support page to learn more about how Pepperdine can assist them.
  • Where can I go for information related to local fires?
    • The Watch Duty app has the latest information on local fires.
    • Los Angeles County officials use the Genasys system to note which zones are under evacuation warnings and orders during emergencies.
  • Where can I learn more about Pepperdine’s emergency plans? 
    • The university has detailed and comprehensive emergency plans covering a wide variety of potential scenarios, including wildfires. Pepperdine’s Emergency Information Page serves as a repository for the University’s emergency preparedness information for various disasters, which are regularly updated, as well as the latest emergency-related messaging to the University community.
  • I want to volunteer, donate, or offer assistance. How do I do that through Pepperdine?
    • Individuals can visit Pepperdine’s WIldfire Community Support page to learn more about how Pepperdine is assisting the community recover through donations, volunteer activities, legal assistance, and more. 
    • Individuals can also make donations through the Pepperdine Strong Fund.
  • I have questions which are not answered here:

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.