03
December
2020
|
13:17 PM
America/Los_Angeles

Public Safety Power Shutoff Update

We are continuing to monitor public safety power shutoffs related to the Red Flag Warning for Riverside and San Diego counties that was issued earlier this week by the National Weather Service.

We know many members of the CSUSM community have been impacted by power shutoffs in their homes and neighborhoods, making it difficult or impossible to conduct their usual class, study and/or work responsibilities.

We appreciate all you are doing under these difficult and uncertain circumstances, and we have resources available should you need assistance.

 

Information for Students

For students needing support, please contact the Cougar Care Network by emailing ccn@csusm.edu or calling 760-750-7627.

If you are unable to attend class or submit an assignment because of a power outage, please contact your faculty member as soon as you can.

Registration will remain open and if you have been impacted by the power outage, you can register in MyCSUSM anytime once power has been restored.

 

Information for Faculty

If you need to cancel class because of an outage at your home or because too many of your students are adversely impacted by an outage, please notify your department chair.

You are also are encouraged to offer any students impacted by a power outage reasonable accommodation regarding assignments and exams.

 

For Staff and Administrators

If you are unable to work due to an outage, please contact your supervisor. Due to COVID-19, employees should not come to campus to work unless previously authorized to do so. Any employee who is unable to work due to a power outage may receive paid administrative leave for the duration of the shutoff.

As always, your health, safety and well-being are our top priorities. The power outages are yet another challenge for us to overcome together this year. Thank you for your perseverance and partnership – we will get through this moment together.

 

DEC. 2 MESSAGE

Notice of Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning in the Riverside and San Diego Counties' inland valleys from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. During this time, high winds and dry conditions could lead to wildfire activity in our region. As a result, local utility officials have warned that power may be temporarily shut off at any time during this period to customers in areas of high fire risk.

CSUSM has been notified that our campus may be impacted by a potential public safety power shutoff. To check if your residence may also be impacted, visit San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison's websites.

 

What you should know about Public Safety Power Shutoffs:

  • Utility providers will make every effort to provide a minimum 24-hour notice before interrupting service.
  • Outages are authorized to last up to five days.
  • While our campus population has already been significantly reduced due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, the campus will fully close for the duration of an outage.
  • We encourage all campus community members to have a safety plan in place.

 

What you can do to prepare for an outage on campus or at home:

  • Unplug any unnecessary appliances and equipment such as computers, printers, lamps, coffee makers and microwaves to reduce stress on the utility grid.
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers closed to reduce the risk of spoiled food.
  • Be sure you keep your vehicle’s gas tank full as gas pumps may be affected by outages.
  • Keep a flashlight in an easily accessible area.
  • Keep your cellphone and laptop fully charged and use them on “low-power” mode until the risk of shutdown is lifted. 
  • Check on your friends and neighbors.

If you or anyone you know in the CSUSM community needs assistance at this time, please connect with our campus resources.

For students needing support, contact the Cougar Care Network. If you are impacted by a power outage and unable to attend virtual class, please contact your faculty member. Students living in on-campus housing should refer to the email that was sent earlier today for additional information and instructions in case of a power outage.

For all faculty, if you are without power at home or circumstances are such that you are unable to teach, please contact your dean. Please offer any students impacted by a power outage reasonable accommodations regarding assignments and exams.

For all staff, if you are without power at home or circumstances are such that you are unable to work, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources.

Please closely monitor your campus email and official CSUSM social media for updates from University Communications.