SDCCD Community:
Update 1 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21
Over the course of the morning, we have inspected all college and district facilities and assessed the impact of the storm. While we lost several trees and had water damage due to leaks in some buildings, we appear to have avoided any significant damage. Repairs to the impacted areas are being scheduled and completed and we are taking steps to ensure we do not have any mold or other residual effects from the storm.
At this time, the SDCCD will resume all classes, services, and operations tomorrow, August 22nd.
Update: 6 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20
Due to the lingering effects of Tropical Storm Hilary, all campuses and facilities of the San Diego Community College District will be closed Monday, August 21. All classes at San Diego City, Mesa, Miramar, and Continuing Education colleges are canceled. The district anticipates a full reopening Tuesday, August 22.
According to SDCCD Acting Chancellor Gregory Smith, the decision to close the district is being made so that all facilities can be inspected as the brunt of Hilary’s wind and rain is still expected Sunday evening.
“The health and safety of our students and employees is our highest priority,” said Smith. “While we have received no reports of damage to any district facilities, we believe it best for the community to keep as many people as possible off local roads and highways.”
Monday would have been the first day of classes for approximately 50,000 students across the district. The district is informing students and employees via text and email.
2 p.m. Friday, August 18
As we finalize preparations for the start of the fall semester at our credit colleges on Monday, Hurricane Hilary is advancing towards southern California. At this time, the National Weather Service is predicting the hurricane will be downgraded to a tropical storm before it reaches our coast over the weekend. We expect to have as much as an inch of rain on Monday and Tuesday with winds from 15 to 20 MPH throughout the county.
We do not anticipate the storm will disrupt power, network services, transportation, classes, services, or work activities broadly across our District at this time. We do not anticipate there will be a need to close our colleges or suspend operations, however, there may be isolated disruptions to specific buildings and programs. At this time, we are planning for regular business at all our colleges and facilities.
I encourage you to monitor news about the storm over the weekend and early next week, especially for any impact it may have on your home and local transportation. If it becomes necessary to close facilities or suspend operations, we will send out notices with as much advanced notice as possible.
The California Office of Emergency Services has many resources available to help you plan for power outages and other impacts of severe weather. A comprehensive guide to emergency planning is available here.
Be safe and cautious,
Gregory Smith
Acting Chancellor/Vice Chancellor, People, Culture, and Technology Services
