Latest Event Updates
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.
A Message from President Gash: Pepperdine’s Emergency Preparedness
Each year, Pepperdine prepares this message to better inform parents and students of the University’s emergency response plans. Most years, this letter shares what Pepperdine does to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe. In other years, it also serves as a reminder of how important awareness, emergency preparedness, and resilience are for the entire University—and the role each member of our community has in managing our collective response.
As we bring our community together again this school year, you can take comfort in knowing that life safety is our top priority. We remain poised to address natural and man-made disasters. Pepperdine University is like a small, well-equipped city. We have fire trucks and emergency response personnel; capable facilities employees able to respond 24/7; medical supplies, food, and water; health and counseling centers; and numerous other resources available to us in an emergency. Additionally, faculty and staff who live on campus are present and active in assisting the University’s response.
Through diligent training, equipping, studying, staffing, and commitment, we are prepared to be our own first responders until local and state agencies reach campus. We are prepared to be self-reliant in the event utilities and other infrastructure services are disrupted. When the University activates an emergency response plan, our expertly trained staff gather support personnel, disseminate information, and, if necessary, open pre-planned relocation centers. The University has an exhaustive and well-rehearsed protocol to evaluate risks and make decisions in the best interests of both our community and our campuses.
I can attest from personal experience that, in the middle of an emergency at Pepperdine, a sense of calm permeates our community, which may be radically different than what is portrayed in the media. This is because we have done our due diligence to be prepared. One of our greatest tasks is to transmit accurate information from, to, and within the campus community. Our emergency notification system, Everbridge, allows the University to send voice messages to the cell, office, and home phones of every faculty, staff, and student, as well as deliver text messages and emails. The system is dependent upon each of our community members entering his or her contact information into the University web portal that feeds into Everbridge.
In addition, the latest updates and decisions of the University’s Emergency Operations Committee are posted on Pepperdine’s Emergency Information Page. You may also call our Department of Public Safety at 310.506.4442 (non-emergency line) or 310.506.4441 (emergency line) at any time. The only things that may impair our communications are things we simply cannot plan for or control. Throughout all of this, our every effort is directed toward protecting our community and returning to safe and normal operations, including classes, as soon as possible.
Furthermore, we use the StepUp campaign to emphasize the importance of looking out for one another, both in emergency situations and in daily life. Through the StepUp campaign, our students, faculty, and staff have received valuable bystander intervention and Title IX training that encourages participants to step up and speak up for themselves and others who may be in distress.
Another instrumental tool in this effort is the LiveSafe campus safety app, which allows users to submit emergency and non-emergency messages to Public Safety; utilize SafeWalk, a peer-to-peer virtual security escort allowing users to ensure their loved ones reach their destinations safely; and see a full list of the University’s emergency procedures. Importantly, the app also works for users who are traveling or participating in one of our international programs. Further, we partner with International SOS, a global emergency medical and security services firm that provides assistance to our students, faculty, and staff abroad.
Pepperdine maintains a multi-disciplinary threat assessment team that meets as needed to immediately address potential threats to our community. The team includes University leaders, members of our Counseling Center, and outside experts and law enforcement when applicable. The group is experienced and well-trained, and it always works to serve the best interests of the University community and the individual about whom the concern was raised.
Our emergency plans are living documents, regularly updated to include the latest best practices adapted to best serve our community. In addition to learning from our own experiences, we also study disasters around the world to better inform our plans. This thoughtful preparation places us in a state of readiness as we move into this new school year. While we hope and pray our emergency preparedness efforts each year are unneeded, our response teams and plans are ready to be activated if needed.
All of us at Pepperdine are excited for the school year ahead, and we look forward to completing it successfully—and safely—with each student who has been entrusted to us.
Tsunami Watch Upgraded to Tsunami Advisory
The National Tsunami Warning Center has upgraded their tsunami watch to a tsunami advisory for the US West Coast following a 8.7 earthquake approximately 80 miles southeast of Peropavlovsk Kamchatka. A tsunami advisory is the second level of the warning center’s three-tier alert system. It means a tsunami with strong currents or dangerous waves for those in or very near the water is expected. The estimated arrival time for the Los Angeles region remains approximately 1 AM Wednesday.
Individuals should remain alert and be prepared to take action. The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management also notes individuals should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways as waves could be life-threatening, and watercraft and structures could be damaged.
Pepperdine’s Malibu campus is not expected to be affected, but lower lying areas in Malibu and along the Ventura and Los Angeles coastlines could be impacted.
Please continue to monitor updates from your local authorities. In the unlikely event the University’s Malibu campus will be impacted, additional messaging will be sent, otherwise this will be the last message from the University.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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