Wildfire Community Support
As Pepperdine continues to support students, faculty, and staff as they navigate the challenges posed by the Palisades Fire and other fires in the greater Los Angeles area, the following resources are available to both the Pepperdine community and our neighbors to address emergent, urgent, and ongoing needs during this critical time and beyond.
Critical Community Relief Assistance
For Students
Students who have experienced significant loss—such as homes, vehicles, computers, and other essential belongings—can contact the Student Care Team. A case manager will be assigned to coordinate support from the University.
Students who have lost their off-campus housing and would like to arrange for on-campus housing for the spring semester may contact Housing and Residence Life.
For Employees
Faculty and staff who have been impacted by the wildfires should contact Human Resources, which will coordinate support from the University through the Pepperdine Strong Fund and other available resources.
Faculty and staff may access counseling services through HR's Employee Assistance Program. Additional details are available by contacting Human Resources at 310.506.4397.
Pepperdine Strong Fund
The Pepperdine Strong Fund was established in 2018 to enable Pepperdine to quickly assist students, faculty, and staff in emergencies and crises. In the last few days, more than $150,000 was disbursed to meet the immediate needs of community members affected by the recent wildfires. As the impact of the wildfires continues to unfold, dedicated case managers will remain focused in the days and weeks to come to addressing the evolving and long-term needs of affected community members and disburse funds accordingly. Due to the ongoing nature of these needs, additional funds will be required in the future to continue supporting our affected community members as they recover and rebuild.
By making a gift of any size to the Pepperdine Strong Fund, you will:
- Offer direct assistance to the many students, staff, and faculty members who have faced loss and displacement
- Provide safe temporary housing, meals, and essential items for families who are still sorting through the damage
- Ease the burden of travel interruptions and evacuation expenses, allowing affected individuals to focus on rebuilding and regaining stability
Local Service Projects and Partnerships
Donate Essential Supplies
The University has received an overwhelming outpouring of support for those in our community facing critical needs during this challenging time. If you would like to donate items to our displaced students, faculty, and staff, please contact Christin Shatzer Román for a list of urgently needed supplies. Your donations will help provide comfort and essential resources to those in need.
Volunteer Service Projects
Community Engagement and Service in the Hub for Spiritual Life is currently identifying and coordinating service opportunities to support recovery efforts across the community. Details about projects and locations will be shared as these opportunities become available. In the meantime, please complete this form to be notified of upcoming opportunities.
Support Our Partner Organizations
The following partner organizations are dedicated to providing critical aid during the wildfire crisis. By supporting these trusted groups, you can contribute to recovery efforts that help affected families, first responders, and communities in need of immediate relief and long-term recovery resources.
Legal Clinics and Training
In response to the devastating fires that have impacted so many in the Los Angeles area, the Pepperdine Caruso Law Legal Clinics are launching pro bono disaster response programs to support our neighbors in need and lawyers looking to serve them. In addition, Caruso Law alumnus Michael Bidart (JD '74), managing partner at Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP, will co-lead a webinar for homeowners and insurance policyholders on navigating the wildfire insurance claims process. We invite you to participate, whether by learning, serving, or sharing these opportunities with those who may benefit.
FEMA Training for Local Attorneys
Thursday, January 16 | 6 PM via Zoom
An online training for local lawyers on FEMA practice, standards, procedure, and advocacy. This aims to improve lawyers' immediate capacity to help the community.
Pro Bono Legal Clinic
Saturday, January 18 | 10 AM | St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
Sunday, January 19 | 1 PM | St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
A pro bono, limited-scope legal clinic with clinic faculty and local attorneys to provide advice, counsel, and guidance to neighbors on FEMA applications, insurance claims, and related legal issues. We welcome alumni attorneys to join us for this and future single-day clinics.
Informational Webinar: Navigating L.A. Fire Insurance Issues
Friday, January 17 | 10 AM via Zoom
Law firms Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP and Larson LLP have partnered to host an informational webinar that will cover tips for managing the insurance claims process to ensure that full benefits are paid and evaluate whether your home was underinsured.
Local Community Support
As local government agencies experience operational challenges due to limited access to their offices and utility providers require on-the-ground response for affected neighborhoods, Pepperdine's Malibu campus has become a key hub for hosting their response efforts and coordinating their support for the local community.
- Firefighting helicopters transported water from Pepperdine's Recycled Water Irrigation Reservoir during the Palisades and Kenneth Fires.
- SoCalGas is using Pepperdine's Firestone Fieldhouse Parking Lot as its command center, a critical hub for local response efforts.
- The City of Malibu Emergency Operations Committee conducted their coordinated response efforts on Pepperdine's Malibu campus.
- CAL Fire is using the conference facilities at the Villa Graziadio Executive Center on Pepperdine's Drescher Graduate Campus.
- In partnership with the City of Malibu, CAL Fire is using Pepperdine's Civic Center property to position resources such as personnel, vehicles, equipment, and aircraft for immediate deployment in case of an emergency.
