Dear UCSC Students,
As fire threats continue to impact our region and Santa Cruz county, we write to advise you to be prepared, should the need arise, to evacuate from the campus or be relocated elsewhere on campus as conditions change. At this point we have not been ordered to evacuate. Rather, we are asking that you take precautions and prepare should an evacuation be required. The better prepared you are the more effective a potential evacuation will be. There is nothing more important than your safety.
Students living in relative proximity to the campus who have been already evacuated or who are later required to evacuate will be welcomed on campus while that possibility exists. However, the campus could be directed to evacuate on short notice. We truly understand how this emergency situation adds stress at an already challenging time.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DO SO: As a precautionary measure we encourage you to promptly arrange for travel or for someone to pick you up to take you to temporary housing at a friend’s or relative’s home outside the threatened area as soon as possible. Be prepared for heavy traffic conditions heading into and out of the area. The more prepared you are in advance of an evacuation order, should that come, the better.
An emergency can strike quickly and the fire threat remains present in our region. We will send a CruzAlert, if immediate action is required. Please continue to follow the Red Cross evacuation preparation guidance. More information can be found on the Red Cross Wildfire Safety website.
- Be ready in a moment’s notice; be sure to pack belongings such as clothing, non-perishable foods for you and your service or support animal if you have one, medications and copies of important documents.
- If you have not already done so, sign up for UCSC Cruz Alert notifications here -- this is among the most effective means for receiving urgent campus-specific information and updates. Updates may also be found here.
- Listen to local radio and television stations for updated emergency information.
- Students living on campus who do not have access to a vehicle will receive directions from the campus in the event that evacuation is deemed necessary.
- It may be helpful to bring your own bed linens, pillows, towels, etc.
More information can be found on the Red Cross Wildfire Safety website.
ALL STUDENTS LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY DISPLACED DUE TO FIRE DANGER:
UCSC students living near campus who have or will have to evacuate their residence may be able to relocate into campus-housing. Please contact the College Nine and College Ten Residential Life and Housing Office, open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 831-459-3834 or email 9housing10@ucsc.edu (for help and assistance) of your intentions. For assistance with urgent needs or after hours support please call Slug Support at 831-459-7003.
All precautions to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 remain mandatory and must be adhered to including wearing a face covering outside of an individual's private residence and maintaining six feet of distance between people. No guests will be permitted within individual rooms and any form of group congregation is not permitted.
We will continue to update the campus community as the fire situation in our region evolves.
