Oct 26, 2020
To the campus community:
OCFA firefighters continue to battle the Silverado Fire and as of 4:46 p.m. it is zero percent contained. Suspension of campus operations will continue through tomorrow, October 27. All non-essential staff should stay home. Only essential work, including work that supports our on-site student community such as housing and dining, should continue inside operations. If you are not sure if you are an essential employee, you should check with your supervisor for your reporting status. Environmental Health & Safety will continue to monitor the air quality on campus and we will provide another update tomorrow.
We want to make sure that you are aware of UCI’s emergency resources and are informed of actions to take if you need to be evacuated. If you are in an area where an evacuation order has been issued due to fire danger, please take this seriously—the wellbeing and safety of you and your family is of utmost importance.
For our students and their families who are facing significant impacts due to the loss of their home or are in need of support due to evacuations, please contact the Campus Social Worker at campussocialworker@uci.edu or phone (949-824-0101) for support and assistance.
For faculty and staff who find themselves also in need of support, please know that the Employee Assistance Program is a resource and you can find more information at http://www.wellness.uci.edu/facultystaff/eap/introduction.html. Additional emergency resources are available from UC’s benefits plans and UCnet provides details about the support and accommodations available to you. UCI also has negotiated reduced rates on local hotels. In addition to what is available at https://accounting.uci.edu/travel/resources/hotels.html, the Ayers Hotel in Orange will provide discounted rates for UCI employees. Call hotel directly at (714) 919-7940 and mention “UCI Employee Discount,” or use “Corporate Code 50.” Booking Link: https://reservations.ihotelier.com/istay.cfm?hotelid=131335&rateplanid=1734239. Should you have additional questions, please reach out to the Employee Experience Center (EEC) at eec@uci.edu or (949) 824-0500.
For those of you monitoring the situation, consider registering at www.alertoc.com, which is a mass notification system designed to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies that may require immediate life-savings actions.
UCI takes your safety very seriously and encourages you to take appropriate precautions when learning, living, and working at UCI. The emergency management unit serves as the administrative unit charged with creating the framework within which the university can reduce vulnerability and sensitivity to hazards and cope with crises and disasters.
Here is a recommended list to help you prepare in case of an emergency:
- Sign up for zotALERT and make sure to update your contact information if it changes.
- Download the free With U · For U mobile app (App Store or Google Play) to quickly access safety resources and report safety concerns.
- Make or purchase an Emergency Supply Kit.
- Make an Emergency Plan with your family and/or friends.
- Review campus emergency procedures.
- Review OC Fire Authority Ready Set Go webpage.
Please visit uci.edu/status/ for the latest information from UCI on fire impacts.
Sincerely,
Hal S. Stern, Ph.D.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Chancellor’s Professor, Department of Statistics
Ronald S. Cortez, JD, MA
Chief Financial Officer
Vice Chancellor, Division of Finance and Administration