I want to express my deepest gratitude and admiration for the extraordinary efforts and unwavering dedication demonstrated by our teams during the recent wildfire crisis that directly or indirectly impacted many of our colleagues, family and friends in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena and Pasadena. Your commitment to the safety and well-being of our organization and community has been nothing short of inspiring.
From the moment the UCLA Emergency Operations Center was activated, through the 24-hour monitoring and the day-to-day work that kept UCLA running and our community members cared for, your tireless work ensured that we were able to respond swiftly and effectively to the evolving situation.
Members from Housing and Hospitality; Events and Transportation; Facilities Management; IT Services; Environment, Health and Safety, UCLA Fire; Campus Human Resources (CHR); and the Office of the Administrative Vice Chancellor played crucial roles as section chiefs, operations, direct support to victims and more.
The work and coordination of this emergency took on a different challenge, as some who were still working to serve the campus community while they themselves were in an evacuation zone and/or whose own homes and families were directly impacted by the fires.
It was astonishing and humbling to see how our teams came together to support each other and our campus community. Some examples include:
Campuswide collaboration to operationalize UCLA's evacuation plan for students on the Hill and Westwood properties, including rally points and transportation pickups. Coordinating with other institutions such as the University of Southern California, our sister Southern California UC campuses and CalState partners to identify off-campus staging sites and temporary housing options showcased the strength of our partnerships.
Readying the South Bay Campus for possible student, staff and faculty evacuation housing and the development of the Evacuation Transportation Plan ensured that we were prepared for any eventuality.
Development of the UCLA Evacuee Resources Master Inventory opens a new window detailing essential resources for housing, food distribution, clothing and other donations. Contributions from APB, Housing, the Healthy Campus Initiative at UCLA, UCLA Development, Alumni Affairs, Student Affairs/Community Programs Office, Insurance and Risk Management Business Continuity, Legal and others were invaluable.
Establishment of the real time UCLA evacuee dashboard that geo mapped campus databases with the CalFire evacuation boundaries to identify staff, faculty, and students living within an evacuation zone, along with the generation of unit-level specific reports for senior leadership, allowed us to provide targeted outreach and support.
The coordination with CHR and APB to offer financial assistance and resources to Bruins who lost their homes was a vital lifeline for those affected. The Bruin Relief Fund opens a new window was also established to support Bruins in need.
UCPD provided support to mutual aid partners at the Zuma Beach incident command post.
Collaboration among the Office of Emergency Management, Strategic Communications and subject-matter experts on time-sensitive BruinPosts and Bruins Safe Online opens a new window updates, as well as curating content for UCLA's L.A. Fire microsite, ensured that our community remained informed and connected.
Creation of the wildfirerelief@ucla.edu inbox which streamlined all inquiries by staff, faculty and students to the Administrative Vice Chancellor’s Office.
Updating the algorithm for the UCLA AirQual dashboard opens a new window and development of the Air Quality Assessment webpage clarified misinformation regarding air quality on campus.
Establishing the UCLA PPE Store opens a new window and the re-launch of the UCLA Building Ventilation Assessment and filter replacement program further supported our air quality and mitigation efforts.
Mobilizing staff resources, administrative leave, catastrophic leave, grants and funding for those who lost their homes, along with the activation of the Disaster Relief Center at UCLA Research Park opens a new window. The assistance provided by CHR Talent Acquisition to individuals experiencing job displacement was a critical support measure.
Coordination of multiple LA Fires Town Halls, the development of ITS Security Advisories, and the discounted rate offers to evacuees from hospitality properties highlighted our commitment to communication, safety, and support.
These incredible efforts have been acknowledged by campus leaders and partners, including by our new chancellor at our recent chancellor’s listening exercise session on March 17 opens a new window. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect with chancellor Frenk, reflecting on the start of his tenure during the L.A. fires emergency and discussing key issues facing our organization, including budget constraints, deferred maintenance, UCLA’s role in the 2028 Olympics, campus culture, safety and emerging technologies.
As we wrap up the winter quarter and step into the spring quarter, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your exceptional work during this challenging time. Your resilience, teamwork and unwavering dedication have made a profound difference in the lives of our community members.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Beck
Administrative Vice Chancellor
