To: The Caltech Community
From: Thomas F. Rosenbaum Sonja and William Davidow Presidential Chair and Professor of Physics
We end a devastating week sustained by the care and resolve of the Caltech community, yet sobered by the scale of loss and the long recovery ahead.
First and foremost, we extend our deepest gratitude to students, staff, and faculty—as well as our wider community of first responders, elected officials, public agencies, alumni, parents, and friends—who have rallied individually and collectively to protect each other’s safety, the region’s well-being, and Caltech’s mission of research and education.
As of this writing, at least 200 Caltech community members have lost their homes to the fires that continue to burn throughout the Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles areas. Thousands more have been displaced, and still others face power outages, poor air quality, and other challenges.
Today’s limited reopening of campus has meant that members of the Caltech community who have been without power, water, and Internet may more readily access these services, including newly established charging stations and showers in the athletic facilities. We are working hard to aggregate additional resources and to provide information to those who wish to contribute to recovery efforts.
To that end, a Caltech and JPL Disaster Relief fund has been established to assist our colleagues—students, postdocs, staff, faculty and JPLers—who have lost their homes or who have been met with other hardship in the wake of this emergency. The needs are acute and we know that the members of our community will do what they can to lessen the burdens brought by disaster.
The region’s historic fires pose no direct threat to campus at present. Debris and other hazards created by recent winds have been cleared, and we are addressing limited damage to campus buildings. As we prepare to resume classes on Monday, January 13, we continue to monitor residences and classrooms to ensure that air quality levels are safe and mental and physical health services are available. Dining services and athletic facilities are up and operating.
You can find updates through the Caltech Alerts system and posted online at caltech.edu/emergency. Please remain vigilant in your care for yourselves and one another.