Latest Event Updates
COVID-19 Community Update – November 19
The University continues to monitor the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. As cities and states throughout the nation—including Los Angeles and its surrounding counties—are reporting new increases in positivity rates and hospitalizations, community members should remain vigilant and continue to take preventative action.
New Los Angeles County Restrictions
Yesterday, Los Angeles County announced new restrictions effective Friday, November 20, including the following:
- All non-essential retail establishments must close from 10 PM to 6 AM. For non-essential businesses permitted to operate indoors—including retail stores, offices, personal care services—occupancy will be limited to 25 percent maximum capacity.
- Restaurants, breweries, wineries, and bars, and all other non-essential retail establishments must close from 10 PM to 6 AM. The number of patrons at outdoor restaurants, breweries, and wineries will be limited to 50 percent max outdoor capacity.
- Services at personal care establishments may be provided by appointment only. Services that require either the customer or the staff to remove their face covering are not permitted.
- Outdoor gatherings remain the only gatherings permitted, and they must only include 15 people maximum who are members of no more than three households.
These new restrictions do not directly impact Pepperdine’s current operations. However, health officials also noted additional restrictions may be necessary if cases continue to rise and established thresholds for when they would institute another potential “Safer at Home” order similar to those previously implemented in March and April.
Holiday Travel and Gatherings
The University encourages students, faculty, and staff to review advisories and guidance issued by local and national health agencies. If you plan to travel or visit with loved ones, the CDC has issued travel guidelines and safety recommendations for gathering this holiday season, including the following:
- Obtain an influenza vaccination if you have not already done so.
- Review the regulations governing travel to your destination.
- Delay travel if you feel sick, have been exposed to COVID-19, or are in quarantine or isolation.
Similarly, California, Oregon, and Washington issued travel advisories urging people to consider limiting out-of-state travel and self-quarantining for 14 days upon re-entry if traveling out-of-state.
Staying Safe
As a reminder, community members should follow guidelines from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and CDC when interacting with individuals outside of their primary household to ensure their safety and the safety of our community.
- Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth when in public. Recent studies have shown masks offer protection to you by reducing the amount of infectious droplets inhaled by the wearer, as well as those around you by limiting the spread of infectious droplets from unaware, asymptomatic mask wearers.
- Keep a distance of at least six feet from others whenever possible.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Limit the time you spend with individuals who live outside your household, especially indoors, and even if wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, or outdoors.
Emotional Support Resources
As the pandemic concludes its ninth month in the United States, the University recognizes some community members may be experiencing ongoing feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or isolation. As a reminder, the Counseling Center, Employee Assistance Program, and Pastoral Care are available to the University community. Details on contacting each of these are available on the University’s COVID-19 website.
As always, the University encourages all students, faculty, and staff to stay informed and follow the guidance and direction of local authorities. The latest information is available on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page. If you have questions, please contact Pepperdine’s COVID-19 Information Line at 310.506.8111 or via email at covid19info@pepperdine.edu.
Red Flag Warning – October 25-27, 2020
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning beginning last night Sunday, October 25, 2020, through 6 pm Tuesday, October 27, 2020, for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, due to strong northeast winds and relatively low humidity. Gusts of 35-50 are predicted in Malibu.
Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service identify time periods when conditions are ideal for wildfires. During Red Flag warnings it is especially important to:
- Report any signs of smoke immediately to emergency responders. If on the Malibu campus call Public Safety at 310.506.4441. At all other locations report smoke by calling 911.
- Use caution when disposing of cigarettes and ensure that they are completely extinguished.
- Minimize any use of open flame in outdoor settings.
- Consider taking down umbrellas and moving patio furniture inside.
During Red Flag conditions, Southern California Edison (SCE) may issue a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), a preemptive deenergization of electrical circuits in an attempt to prevent power lines from starting a potential wildfire. This may result in the loss of power for a Pepperdine campus. While SCE has promised to advise the community in advance, and University officials are in regular communication with SCE representatives, the community should nevertheless be prepared for the possibility of a PSPS. Further details on a PSPS and how you can prepare are available here.
The Department of Public Safety is monitoring the situation and is prepared to respond to potential wildfires.
Mountain Lion Sighting on the Malibu Campus
A resident reported a mountain lion sighting to Public Safety this evening at 8:09 PM. The lion was spotted on the driveway leading up to Tiner Court and was last seen walking on the hillside along Tiner Court/President’s Drive toward the Student Assistance Center (SAC). Public Safety officers searched the indicated area but did not locate the animal. The sighting was reported to the local sheriff’s department and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Pepperdine officials share confirmed mountain lion sightings near the Malibu campus to ensure the University community is informed of, but not alarmed by, the wildlife with whom we share the Santa Monica Mountains. Pepperdine officials place the highest priority on the safety of our University community and remain in close communication with National Parks Service biologists, who have studied mountain lion behavior in the Santa Monica Mountains for many years.
It is not uncommon to see a mountain lion or other animals on campus, given our location. It is important all members of the Pepperdine community remain vigilant and follow best practices.
Please remember:
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone, especially from dusk until dawn when mountain lions are most active.
- Remember Public Safety security escorts are available on the Malibu campus 24/7 by calling Public Safety Dispatch at 310.506.4442.
- If you see a mountain lion on or near the Malibu campus, please report the incident to Public Safety at 310.506.4441.
- If safe to do so, please take a picture and/or video and send it to Public Safety via the LiveSafe app.
As a reminder, if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Respect the animal.
- Maintain eye contact and move away slowly.
- Do NOT run. Running will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to chase you.
- Appear as large, loud, and powerful as possible.
- If there are small children or pets present, pick them up immediately. Additionally do NOT leave them unattended outside.
- Do not approach the mountain lion; leave space for the cat to escape.
- In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Do not fall to the ground or roll into the fetal position.
Power Outage Advisory: Rolling Blackout Notice for Malibu and Calabasas Campuses
Pepperdine has learned the Malibu and Calabasas campuses are on a list of locations that may experience rolling blackouts this week due to excess demand in the wake of the heat wave. Rolling blackouts are short power outages to reduce strain on the electrical grid. While we have asked our electrical provider, Southern California Edison, to give as much advance notice as possible for these potential outages, we may not receive any warning. Rolling blackouts typically last from a few minutes up to about an hour or more for each location.
While power outages may occur at any time due to a variety of causes, with courses currently online and participation dependent on power and internet connections, we are providing this information to allow you to prepare for a potential interruption to classes. Professors and students may arrange, class by class, a protocol by which they will operate in the event of an outage. However, if no individual plan has been made, the University’s standard is to attempt to reconnect for up to 15 minutes after the start of a power outage. If you cannot reconnect after 15 minutes:
- Professors unable to teach a course because of a power outage should consider the class meeting canceled and contact affected students when feasible to explain the situation.
- Students unable to reconnect to attend a course because of a power outage should contact their professor when feasible to explain the situation. This would be considered an excused absence due to the power outage.
If University campuses are impacted, updates will be posted on Pepperdine’s Emergency Information Page. Contact the University’s Emergency Services at 310.506.4442 or emergencyservices@pepperdine.edu with any questions.
Pepperdine Emergency Information 
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