Updated 10:30 a.m. Aug. 23: As of 8 o'clock last night, ºÙºÙÊÓƵ had provided emergency shelter for 45 people from 15 households (five staff members, eight students and two faculty). One household lost its home, the others had to evacuate (nine from the local area, four from the Santa Cruz area and two from Sonoma County). They came with 19 animals, including a service dog and an emotional support dog.
The university made its offer of short-term emergency housing on Thursday (Aug. 20), for campus affiliates including faculty, staff and registered students and their families who have been impacted by evacuations or lost their homes due to the wildfires in Northern California. For campus affiliates who have lost their homes, the university can help explore options for longer-term housing solutions — and officials said Friday night they has been in contact with three landlords prepared to help with longer-term housing in five or six apartment complexes.
The Human Resources Shared Services call center, 530-754-4772, is fielding inquiries 12 hours a day, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Updated 5 p.m. Aug. 20: ºÙºÙÊÓƵ is offering short-term emergency housing for campus affiliates including faculty, staff and registered students and their families to support members of our community who have been impacted by evacuations or lost their homes due to wildfires in Northern California. For campus affiliates who need somewhere to stay until evacuation orders are lifted and they can return home, the university can offer stays of up to five days. For campus affiliates who have lost their homes, the university can help explore options for longer-term housing solutions.
To explore options for support, please call the Human Resources Shared Services call center at 530-754-4772 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Aug. 21-24).
The original message, below, went out at about 9:40 a.m. today (Aug. 20) in support of ºÙºÙÊÓƵ affiliates impacted by wildfires in the region, and listing resources available to those affiliates. The message also notes how ºÙºÙÊÓƵ units — including ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Health, the School of Veterinary Medicine, the Fire Department and Transportation Services — have responded.
To the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Community:
Our ºÙºÙÊÓƵ faculty, staff and students have been through so much this year, and now many in our community have faced further adversity brought on by the wildfires ravaging California. Some have had their homes destroyed or damaged by fire, while others have been forced to leave their homes in mandatory evacuations, not knowing if those homes will be there when they return. And many of you are sheltering your family and friends who have been forced to evacuate.
We want to be sure that you know that there are resources that are available to you, our faculty, staff and students.
We are encouraging supervisors and department chairs to be flexible and understanding with staff and faculty who have been impacted by the fires or power outages. Faculty members who cannot teach classes due to fire impacts, please contact your department chair. Staff members who cannot work due to fire impacts, contact your supervisor. For those in need of further assistance, the , offers confidential and cost-free assessment, intervention, consultation and referral services to all ºÙºÙÊÓƵ employees and their immediate families.
Students impacted by the wildfires who find themselves struggling with classes should contact their instructors or advisors. Students facing issues with housing, food, finances or mental health can find assistance through the , which includes links to 24-hour crisis services. We also have confidential campus counselors at Student Health and Counseling Services who can provide grief counseling and support by phone or video conference. Students can schedule appointments through or by calling at 530-752-0871.
In this time of need, ºÙºÙÊÓƵ service extends beyond the Aggie family. The ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Fire Department has deployed firefighters and trucks to three different fires in the area, working hard alongside city and county firefighters to help keep homes, farms and natural areas out of harm’s way. At ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Health, our physicians, nurses and staff are caring for victims of these wildfires. And the first animal patients suffering from the effects of the fire have arrived at the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. These are just a few examples of Aggies helping Aggies and helping others. We know there are many more examples.
We are continuing to monitor the evolving situation, watching the , so that we can properly protect our essential workers. has also removed some parking restrictions to make it easier for essential workers who must be on campus to park closer to their workplace. We are also exploring further ways to help campus affiliates who have been displaced by the wildfires, including looking at short-term, emergency housing, and we expect to have updates later today.
Media Resources
News and Media Relations, 530-752-1930