Recovering from Devastating Loss

Campus Update

Chancellor Block sent the following message to the UCLA campus community.

Over the past week many of our staff, faculty, students and their families have faced the devastating wildfires raging in California and some have suffered harrowing losses as a result. I know others in our community may also have been affected by or know someone involved in last week’s tragic shooting in Thousand Oaks. In this difficult time, my thoughts go out to all of those who have been impacted by these tragic events.

The campus community cares deeply about all of you who may be hurting and we stand ready to help in any way we can. UCLA and the University of California are absolutely committed to your health and safety. I want to make certain that those in need are aware of available resources.

UC has provided a full list of emergency support services offered through UC benefit plans. I also encourage all of those who could benefit to please access UCLA’s faculty and staff counseling services as well as counseling and psychological services available to our students.

Our campus environmental experts are continuing to closely monitor air quality on our campus as a result of the fires. Fortunately, the skies over campus are clear and blue today, even though fires are still burning to the west. If the prevailing winds shift, however, the smoke could be pushed over the campus. We will send out Bruin Alerts and take appropriate action in the event local air quality readings raise to a level that warrants the suspension of certain outdoor activities. It is advisable to limit outdoor activities when heavy smoke is present.

If you would like to help those in need, please visit this page to find a list of organizations, vetted by the state, that are collecting funds and providing volunteer opportunities.

I would also like to convey our most sincere thanks to all of the firefighters, police — including our own UCPD officers who assisted in the fire zones — and other emergency personnel who have worked tirelessly locally and across the state to keep us safe and protect our homes.

I know this is a difficult time, but you are not alone. We stand with all of those who need our help and I know that together, even though it may take many months, we will recover and rebuild.