Pepperdine Monitoring Wildfires – Update #12

Posted on November 15, 2018, 10:54 AM Updated on November 15, 2018, 2:11 PM

The Pepperdine Emergency Operations Committee remains active today and is monitoring the continued impact of the Woolsey Fire. The Malibu and Calabasas campuses are closed and will remain closed throughout the Thanksgiving holiday period. Students have now received information via email from their professors about remote administration of courses and should reach out to professors with any questions. Staff should communicate with their supervisors regarding work expectations for today and the rest of this week. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) for students and faculty/staff are available at the Woolsey Fire Community Updates website and continue to be expanded with additional information. 

The Woolsey Fire Incident Command Post continues repopulation efforts where it is safe to do so. Currently, parts of the City of Malibu, unincorporated Malibu area neighborhoods, and other neighborhoods in the Conejo Valley region are now open to residents only, but access to some areas within these neighborhoods requires a valid I.D. showing a local address. Visit the Los Angeles County Woolsey Fire website for more information.

As residents in the eastern part of Malibu are being allowed back into the city via Pacific Coast Highway, roadblocks have been moved to Webb Way and will move east to Corral Canyon Road at 2 PM today. Access to areas of Malibu west of the roadblocks remains restricted, and the Malibu campus will still be closed and inaccessible to anyone other than emergency support personnel.

The Woolsey Fire is now 57 percent contained and has burned more than 98,000 acres and destroyed more than 504 structures. The Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service ended yesterday at 5 PM, but wind gusts from 15-20 MPH and very low humidity are expected throughout the day today.

The Pepperdine community is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions and to continue to adhere to new or existing road closures and evacuation warnings. 

Pepperdine Monitoring Wildfires – Update #11

Posted on November 14, 2018, 11:13 AM

The Pepperdine Emergency Operations Committee remains active today and is monitoring the continued impact of the Woolsey Fire. The Malibu and Calabasas campuses are closed and will remain closed throughout the Thanksgiving holiday period. Students have now received information via email from their professors about remote administration of courses and should reach out to professors with any questions. Staff should communicate with their supervisors regarding work expectations for today and the rest of this week.

The Woolsey Fire Incident Command Post announced that some City of Malibu, unincorporated Malibu area neighborhoods, and other neighborhoods in the Conejo Valley region are now open to residents only, but access to some areas within these neighborhoods requires a valid I.D. showing a local address. Visit the Los Angeles County Woolsey Fire website for more information. At this time, Malibu area businesses and their employees, including Pepperdine, will not be allowed access. All roads into Malibu including Pacific Coast Highway and all canyon roads remain closed. The 101 freeway is open in both directions and access ramps are open.

The Woolsey Fire is now 47 percent contained and has burned more than 97,000 acres and destroyed more than 483 structures. The Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service is scheduled to end today at 5 PM.

Air quality in the region can be affected by the Woolsey fire. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) monitors outdoor air quality in Southern California and recommends wearing a mask or limiting outdoor activities when individuals can smell a wildfire. Their website map shows the current conditions. At present, SCAQMD shows air quality for Malibu and Calabasas as “good,” though conditions could change. Pepperdine will offer appropriately rated masks to any community members at the Malibu and Calabasas campuses for use as necessary.

The Pepperdine community is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions and to continue to adhere to new or existing road closures and evacuation warnings.

Campus Updates for Malibu and Calabasas Faculty and Staff

Posted on November 13, 2018, 4:53 PM Updated on November 13, 2018, 4:54 PM

Our thoughts and prayers remain with Pepperdine community members experiencing significant loss and displacement. The University continues to monitor campus conditions to ensure safety and campus operations. The Malibu campus remains inaccessible. The Calabasas campus requires some cleaning and minor repairs.

The University continues to assess the campus work environments following the fire. Because cleaning is required in some areas, faculty and staff are encouraged to work remotely, when feasible, for the remainder of this week. Once roads are opened, supervisors may determine that they or designated members of their staff need to return to campus to work or to retrieve items. Such faculty and staff are welcome to return to campus, understanding that there are minimal campus services, such as trash pick-up, at this time.

Faculty expectations will be communicated through deans’ offices. Staff supervisors are asked to communicate work expectations to their teams. Some staff are able to complete some or all of their duties remotely, while others cannot. Staff will continue to be compensated if they are unable to work due to the aforementioned issues through Friday, November 16. Please reference the Faculty/Staff FAQ webpage on how to complete time cards.

Because of the current dynamic conditions, faculty and staff will receive further updates later in the week. The University will continue to share information as it becomes available.