Latest Event Updates

Monitoring Palisades Fire and Kenneth Fire – Update #4

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University officials continue to monitor the fires in the greater Los Angeles area. 

The Palisades Fire remains approximately 2.5 miles from campus and has burned 21,317 acres. Growth has slowed significantly over the last 24 hours, and officials have indicated that it is 8% contained. Fire activity continues in areas near Piuma Road and Topanga Canyon, which can generate smoke plumes that can be seen around the area.

Forward progress has been stopped on the Kenneth Fire. The fire is presently 960 acres and 35% contained. Fire suppression activities continue in the area, and all evacuation orders for this fire have been lifted. 

Partnership with SoCal Gas
In our continued effort to support the recovery of the Malibu and Palisades communities, Pepperdine is partnering with SoCal Gas to support their efforts to restore gas service to the area. Starting today, SoCal Gas will be utilizing the Firestone Fieldhouse parking lot as their incident command center, providing them with a central hub to better serve the affected neighborhoods.

Student Support 
The University is supporting students who have been impacted by the fires. Students who have lost their off-campus housing and would like to arrange for on-campus housing for the spring semester may contact Housing. Those who have short-term housing or other needs due to fire-related losses may contact the Student Care Team for assistance, which will coordinate support from the University. We are grateful for the generous donors who help us meet needs like these through the Pepperdine Strong Fund.

The Student Health Center and Counseling Center remain open to care for students.  Additionally, medical and mental health support are available through the TimelyCare app. 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.   

Faculty and Staff Support
The University is also supporting faculty and staff who have been impacted by the fire. Faculty and staff should contact Human Resources, which will coordinate support from the University through resources such as the Pepperdine Strong Fund and other available resources.

Human Resources is also available to help employees, and faculty and staff may access counseling services through their Employee Assistance Program – details are available on the Human Resources website or by contacting Human Resources at 310.506.4397.

Pastoral care is available to faculty and staff. Please contact Dee Dee Mayer, interim university chaplain, to make an appointment.

Reminder of Campus Operations and Classes Next Week
As a reminder, the University will operate next week beginning on Monday, January 13, with undergraduate and the vast majority of graduate classes on the Malibu campus held online through Sunday, January 19. Students with classes scheduled on the Calabasas, West Los Angeles, or Irvine campuses should follow the guidance of their deans.

Faculty will deliver classes online from home or from their campus offices as fire and road conditions permit. Deans and supervisors have and will continue to provide additional guidance to faculty related to their ability to teach and hold office hours.

Staff are generally expected to return to normally scheduled work shifts and campus locations next week. Employees who live in the areas impacted by the fires, or have children whose schools are impacted, should work with their supervisors to adjust work schedules to attend to family or home needs.

Road Updates
Road closures remain fluid and as currently reported, below. Currently, the only way to access Pepperdine’s Malibu campus is by taking Kanan Road south to PCH and entering campus on John Tyler Drive.

  • PCH is closed southbound at Malibu Canyon Road and northbound at the McClure Tunnel
  • Malibu Canyon Road is closed between PCH and Piuma
  • Topanga Canyon is closed. 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized.

Resources for Faculty and Staff Affected by Wildfire

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Many in our University family have been personally affected by the damaging wildfires. The Pepperdine community continues to hold our neighbors, colleagues, and friends in our prayers as they navigate disruption, anxiety, grief, and loss during this time of devastation. Below is a list of resources available to assist those affected by the recent and ongoing wildfires in Southern California. 

Pepperdine Strong Fund Resources

If you are directly impacted by the recent wildfires – experiencing an evacuation order, a partial loss of your home, or a total loss of your home – please contact Human Resources (humanresources@pepperdine.edu or 310.506.4397) to learn of immediate resources available to you. 

State and Federal Resources

Transportation Resources

For evacuees in need of transportation, free rides are available to shelters through various services:

  • LA Metro has suspended fares for today, January 10.
  • Lyft: Riders in need can use the code CAFIRERELIEF25, valid for 2 rides up to $25 each ($50 total) from now until 1/15 at 11:59 p.m.
  • Uber: Use promo code WILDFIRE25 in the wallet section of your Uber app to redeem 2 free Uber rides up to $40/each for transportation to/from active shelters.

Temporary Housing Resources

  • Airbnb – Temporary Housing for Wildfire Victims. Airbnb is offering temporary housing to individuals impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. 
  • Local Real Estate. The University has engaged a network of local realtors who are ready to assist with housing, both short-term and long-term needs. For more information, please contact Lisa Stone (lisa.stone@pepperdine.edu). 
  • Open Hoteling Space – Calvary Westlake Village. Calvary Westlake is currently open to anyone in need of a safe and secure place to sit, work, charge devices, or access WiFi (today, January 10, from 8 AM to 6 PM). Calvary Chapel can also assist you or your family with temporary housing.

Financial and Insurance Resources

  • Benefit Services Financial Group (BFSG). BFSG, through its partnership with Pepperdine, offers no-cost personal assistance with various financial matters provided by certified financial planners (CFPs), including reviewing homeowners and renters insurance policies and submitting claims.
  • Aetna Health Members – Resources for Living (RFL). Aetna is offering expanded services through its Resources For Living (RFL) program, which provides support for emotional stress and crisis management, for those affected by the wildfires. Call 1-833-327-AETNA (1-833-327-2386) to be connected to a dedicated support specialist.
    • Prescriptions: For urgent prescriptions, visit any open CVS or covered pharmacy in your area. Non-urgent prescriptions can be mailed by calling Aetna Pharmacy at 1-888-792-3862. Delivery may take 5-7 days.
    • Pharmacies: Due to the wildfires, local pharmacies may be closed or without power. For personalized assistance finding an open pharmacy nearest you, call the concierge number on the back of your member card or visit your member portal.
  • Kaiser Permanente Health Members. Kaiser Permanente members affected by the Southern California wildfires can utilize the following support:
    • Appointments: Video and phone appointments for primary care are available. For questions, contact the Appointment and Advice Call Center at 1-833-574-2273.
    • Prescriptions: For urgent prescriptions, visit any open Kaiser pharmacy. Non-urgent prescriptions can be mailed by ordering online or calling the Mail Order Pharmacy at 1-866-206-2983. Delivery may take 3-5 days.
    • Pharmacies: Due to the wildfires, local pharmacies may be closed or without power. For personalized assistance finding an open pharmacy nearest you, call the concierge number on the back of your member card or visit your member portal.
    • Member Services: For any questions or mental health support, contact the 24/7 Member Services Contact Center at 1-800-464-4000 (English). More details can be found on Kaiser’s website.

Spiritual and Psychological Resources

  • University Chaplain Support. The Hub for Spiritual Life is available to provide spiritual support and guidance during this challenging time. If you need assistance or wish to speak with a chaplain, please contact Tim Spivey (timothy.spivey@pepperdine.edu) or Dee Dee Mayer (deedee.mayer@pepperdine.edu).
  • Grief and Loss Support with Robert Scholz. Robert Scholz, M.A., LMFT, LPCC, a respected professional with over 25 years of experience in clinical and leadership roles and a friend of Pepperdine, will host two opportunities:
    • A Grief Support Workshop will be held on Monday, January 13 at 11:00 AM via Zoom. This session is designed to support both the community and those who have experienced loss. It will offer guidance on managing grief, coping strategies, and maintaining emotional well-being during these challenging times.
    • One-on-one consultations are available for individuals seeking ongoing, personalized support. Please email robert@roberttherapy.com to schedule an appointment.
  • Health Advocate – Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Health Advocate offers 24/7 support University employees, their spouses, dependents, and family, including counseling, insurance assistance, and a wide range of other support services during this ongoing crisis (this resource flyer provides local emergency shelters and other essential resources). To contact Health Advocate, please call 866-799-2728 or visit myhealthadvocate.pepperdine.edu.

Get Involved and Help The Community 

Many people are asking what they can do to support the community during this time. In addition to supporting many worthwhile organizations that support natural and humanitarian crises, there are a few ways to directly help those within the Pepperdine community:

Please contact Human Resources with any questions or requests for assistance. The Pepperdine community grieves with those experiencing loss, and offers support, compassion, and hope in the face of intense challenge.

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.

Monitoring Kenneth Fire – Update #3

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The University continues to monitor the Kenneth Fire, which is 1.5 miles from the Calabasas campus and remains north of the 101 freeway. The fire has grown to approximately 960 acres. The National Weather Service is forecasting sustained winds from the northeast from 25-35 MPH and wind gusts up to 50 MPH tonight. 

Resources are available to address this incident, and agencies are dedicating a considerable amount of firefighting ground and air resources to suppressing the Kenneth Fire. While evacuation warnings and orders have been issued and may continue with fire activity, some have already been recalled on the eastern side of the fire. The latest evacuation warnings for the Kenneth fire are available on the Genasys website. Please monitor and follow evacuation instructions if your area is impacted.

Roads in the area are congested, including with evacuation traffic. There are reports of significant traffic on Kanan Road. The 101 freeway is currently open. If the fire approaches closer to the freeway, officials could temporarily close the freeway. Please be mindful of road closures and traffic patterns as road conditions are fluid. Road conditions for the local area can be found at www.sigalert.com.

Please be advised of the following:

  • Community members whose homes are affected by the fires or road closures should follow the directions of their local governmental agencies. 
  • There are reports of significant traffic on Kanan Road as well as the 101, please be mindful of road conditions and traffic patterns as you consider your response. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to remain on campus as appropriate.
  • Road condition information is available on the University’s Road Condition hotline at 310.506.ROAD (7623).

Our Pepperdine community has been through significant challenges this week as fires have devastated Southern California and have directly impacted many in our community. Even in these heartbreaking moments, we have witnessed our Pepperdine community come together to support one another through it all. We are proud to serve a community that truly cares and helps one another in real and tangible ways. Let us continue to pray for one another and for God’s continued protection for those in our Pepperdine community and all of Los Angeles County.

The Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) will be monitoring the fires throughout the evening and overnight, though this will be the last message tonight unless conditions materially change.

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.

County Alert Error | Monitoring Kenneth Fire – Update #2

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It is being reported by multiple sources that LA County erroneously sent evacuation warnings for the Kenneth fire county wide rather than to just the individuals specifically in the applicable evacuation zones impacted by the fire. 

Officials have issued the evacuations for the Kenneth fire, which are available on the Genasys website and may likely close the 101 in both directions due to the fire. The Malibu campus is not presently threatened by the Kenneth Fire, the EOC continues to monitor the fire, and will provide further updates as appropriate.

Palisades Fire Update
There is a plume of smoke visible from the Malibu campus. This is from the Palisades Fire which is burning up Piuma Canyon near the Monte Nido area. The Palisades Fire is also not presently threatening the Malibu campus.   

Reminders
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. 
  • There are reports of significant traffic on Kanan Road as well as the 101, please be mindful of road conditions and traffic patterns as you consider your response. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to remain on campus as appropriate.
  • Road condition information is available on the University’s Road Condition hotline at 310.506.ROAD (7623).

This entry was posted in Calabasas, Malibu.