Preparing for Potential Impacts of El Niño

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern that increases the likelihood of wetter and stormier winters in Southern California. Weather impacts, due to heavy rain and high winds, may include loss of electricity and flooding. Read more about El Niño at Ready LA County.  

Occidental College is focused on readiness, with facilities team members preparing for weather-related impacts and implementing preventative measures on campus, including clearing roof drains and storm drains, checking parking and plaza areas, and removing debris from drainage channels. 

Before Severe Weather

Entire Community

• Every building on the Occidental campus has a dedicated evacuation zone. Know your zone for buildings, residence halls, and classrooms, and familiarize yourself with exits in your residence halls and academic buildings. 
• Keep office and residential room windows closed when you leave.
• Sign up for OxyAlert, the College’s emergency notification system. 
• Make sure your emergency contact information is up to date.
• Download Occidental’s LiveSafe App, to connect with Campus Safety.
• Add the Campus Safety phone number, (323) 259-2599, to your phone’s contacts.
• Bookmark Occidental’s Emergency Updates webpage to check for potential updates.
• Sign up for City of Los Angeles emergency alerts through NotifyLA.
• Monitor regional weather reports and alerts, including those from the National Weather Service.

Students

• Know how to contact your instructors if weather affects your ability to attend class, access course materials, and access transportation. 
• Safeguard important documents, such as your student ID, health insurance cards, financial aid documents, housing information, and phone numbers. 
• Secure your coursework and learning materials, including notebooks, textbooks, computers, and assignments.
• Keep your essential medications, wallet, keys, phone charger, backup battery, a flashlight, a change of clothes, close-toed shoes, drinking water, and other personal necessities accessible.
• Pack a go bag containing some essential items you may need in case you need to evacuate in a hurry. That same go bag can turn into a stay box if you need to shelter in place. 
• Set aside foods that won’t spoil, such as canned food, granola bars, bottled protein drinks, and prepackaged ramen.

Faculty

• Review how you will communicate with students if weather disrupts electricity, building access, transportation, or course delivery.

Staff and Supervisors 

• Review how you will communicate with employees if weather affects electricity, building access, or transportation.

During Severe Weather

• Follow instructions from the Occidental Emergency Response Team (ERT), Occidental leadership, local and regional emergency officials, and transportation agencies.
• Never walk or drive through flood water. 
• Avoid flooded areas and do not enter closed walkways, roads, or buildings.
• If you see a safety hazard, report it to Campus Safety immediately at (323) 259-2599 or via the LiveSafe App.
• For life-threatening situations, call 911.
• If you encounter flooding on campus: 
  • Between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., report it to Facilities Management immediately at (323) 259-2651.
  • Outside of business hours, report it to Campus Safety immediately at (323) 259-2599 or via the LiveSafe App.