Emergency Updates

EMERGENCY UPDATE
 

Earthquake 7.7.10

A 5.4 earthquake with the epicenter near Palm Springs, CA was felt on the Whittier campus at 4:55 p.m. No injuries or damage have been reported. More info available at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/Quakes/quakes_big.html.

 

Earthquake 3.16.10

According to the Associated Press, a pre-dawn earthquake shook Southern California on Tuesday, startling residents from their sleep. The magnitude-4.4 quake, struck shortly after 4 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.It was centered about one mile from Pico Rivera, Calif., and about 11 miles from the Los Angeles Civic Center.

Los Angeles County Fire Department supervisor Andre Gougis told The Associated Press that the agency was surveying the area, but had received no immediate reports of damage.

 

Weather Alert (1.21.10)

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOS ANGELES/OXNARD CA
115 PM PST THU JAN 21 2010

...POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA THIS
AFTERNOON...

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT. WINDS OF 60 MPH OR GREATER WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...ALONG WITH WATERSPOUTS AND SMALL TORNADOES.

A FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP AT TIMES. THESE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN...DAMAGING WINDS...AND SMALL HAIL. THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY UNSTABLE AND COULD GENERATE ROTATING THUNDERSTORMS THAT GENERATE WATERSPOUTS OVER THE OCEAN THAT MOVE ONSHORE FOR A SHORT DURATION. THE STORM ACTIVITY WILL DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE MAJORITY OF THE REGION.

RESIDENTS IN SOUTHWESTERN CALIFORNIA ARE URGED TO STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE...OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WEATHER.GOV/LOSANGELES

(1.19.10) The National Weather Service has cancelled an earlier Tornado Warning for the Whittier Area. Strong thunderstorms are expected through the evening. Caution is advised. It is also recommended to stay indoors during the severe inclement weather. If you are caught outside seek shelter in a nearby reinforced building.

H1N1 Flu Advisory (09.10.09)

As colleges around the country report cases of the H1N1 flu on their respective campuses, Whittier College is closely monitoring the situation.

Whittier College Plan
Whittier College has a pandemic plan and as part of the plan is using this communication to help educate the campus community to prevent the spread of disease.

The CDC has enumerated common-sense behaviors that have been shown to minimize the spread of disease. Please pay close attention to: frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt-sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available). Throw the tissue in the trash. Use your own pen and avoid rubbing your eyes, or touching your nose or mouth.

The College has placed waterless hand sanitizer in strategic locations around campus and Housekeeping has established regular schedules for frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces such as bathrooms, door knobs, and elevator buttons.

Everyone is encouraged to use disposable wipes and waterless hand cleaner and those living in residence halls are encouraged to frequently clean their rooms, including high touch surfaces. In addition, residents are encouraged to have on hand: a thermometer, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), cough syrup, bottled water, sports drinks, and soups, and boxes of tissues to school.

We ask for your assistance:

  • Students: If you feel ill with a fever of 100 degrees or higher and have either a cough or sore throat, please go to the Health Center. Students who have these symptoms are discouraged from attending classes. Other symptoms include body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. The Health Center can provide masks and hand sanitizer.
  • Faculty and Staff Individuals who have the flu or flu-like illness should stay at home for at least 24 hours after the fever has subsided (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medication that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

These everyday actions can help you stay healthy.

  • Cover your nose and mouth with tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
  • Use your own pen to sign credit card receipts.
  • Think carefully about non-essential travel.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people
  • Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. The virus also lives on inanimate objects, so wash your hands frequently after touching door handles, railing, keyboard, mouses, phones water faucets, toilet door handles or other public objects.

As circumstances change, we will keep you updated.

 
Air Quality Alert: Los Angeles Area (8.31.09)

Smoke from fires causing unhealthy Air Quality for all individuals in parts of Los Angeles County

Although air quality is improving throughout the county, the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest will continue to adversely affect air quality in portions of the San Gabriel Mountains and Valley today, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, urges all individuals in those areas, or areas where there is visible smoke or the odor of smoke, to avoid unnecessary outdoor and indoor physical exertion, such as exercise.

"In all areas of visible smoke or where there is an odor of smoke, all individuals are urged to be cautious and to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. We are also advising schools that are in session in smoke-impacted areas to suspend outside physical activities in these areas, including physical education and after-school sports, until conditions improve," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and County Health Officer.

Throughout Los Angeles County, sensitive individuals, such as those with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory disease, should follow these recommendations and stay indoors as much as possible even in areas where smoke, soot, or ash cannot be seen or there is no odor of smoke.

People can participate in indoor sports or other strenuous activity in areas with visible smoke, soot, or ash, provided the indoor location has air conditioning that does not draw air from the outside and it has closed windows and doors to protect the cleanliness of indoor air. If not, it is recommended that all individuals follow these guidelines as if they were outside.

The fires have not adversely affected the Whittier College community.

Sports training continues as scheduled. "My staff and I are paying special attention to the air quality and we are monitoring our athletes for any signs of distress," said Theresa Acosta, head athletic trainer at Whittier College.

View updated map of Los Angeles County fires in the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles County Fires Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following recommendations will help you protect yourself and your family from harmful effects of bad air quality:

  • If you see or smell smoke, or see a lot of particles and ash in the air, avoid unnecessary outdoor activity to limit your exposure to harmful air. This is especially important for those with heart or lung disease (including asthma), the elderly and children.
  • If outdoor air is bad, try to keep indoor air as clean as possible by keeping windows and doors closed. Air conditioners that re-circulate air within the home can help filter out harmful particles.
  • Avoid using air conditioning units that only draw in air from the outside or that do not have a re-circulating option. Residents should check the filters on their air conditioners and replace them regularly.
    Indoor air filtration devices with HEPA filters can further reduce the level of particles that circulate indoors.
  • If it is too hot during the day to keep the doors or windows closed and you do not have an air conditioning unit that re-circulates indoor air, consider going to an air conditioned public place, such as a library or shopping center, to stay cool and to protect yourself from harmful air.
  • Do not use fireplaces (either wood burning or gas), candles, and vacuums. Use damp cloths to clean dusty indoor surfaces. Do not smoke.
  • If you have symptoms of lung or heart disease that may be related to smoke exposure, including severe coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness, contact your doctor immediately or go to an urgent care center.
  • When smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of time, fine particles can build up indoors even though you may not be able to see them.
    Wearing a mask may prevent exposures to large particles. However, most masks do not prevent exposure to fine particles and toxic gases, which may be more dangerous to your health.

To find a cooling center, call the LA County Information line at 2-1-1 or visit the Public Health website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

Please bookmark this webpage, so that you may receive updates and information in the event of a campus or local emergency. In the event of a crisis requiring immediate action by campus personnel, please contact the Office of Campus Safety by calling 562.907.4911 or 562.907.4211.

Parents and families of enrolled students seeking information during a declared campus emergency should call the Whittier College Emergency Hotline, 562.907.4200, or visit this webpage for updates.

Media should contact the Office of Communications directly, at 562.907.4912 or at mediarelations@whittier.edu. PLEASE NOTE: In an emergency situation, all calls to the College from media will be routed or re-routed to the Communictions staff, who will disseminate updates and advisories, coordinate press conferences and interviews, and photo pools and campus access.