Fire Season: The beautiful sunshine that brings many people to live, work, and study in California can also contribute to hot dry summer and fall seasons and extended fire seasons. Wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape; their smoke may travel many miles from the fire and be a part of local weather patterns. During wildfire and smoke events, it is best to stay indoors with HEPA filtered air as much as possible or use an N95 or P100 mask while outside. It is important to follow local media and weather patterns and know your air quality or changes in air and weather conditions. Bay Area information can be found at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District http://www.baaqmd.gov/ and EPA Air Now https://airnow.gov/.
In order to help prevent wildfires, California power companies may limit or turn off electricity for extended periods of time. These Public Safety Power Shut Offs (PSPS) can last from just a few hours to days or possibly longer. You may want to consider having power banks charged and ready for your phone and computer, should high heat and wind be in the weather forecast.
It is important to talk with your homestay families, roommates, and SSALI-UPP team about their plans, suggestions, and strategies for wildfire, smoke, and PSPS events. If you would like to receive text or email alerts and public safety announcements you can register at https://local.nixle.com/register/ . Also, register your phone with the SSU emergency alert system. To opt in for emergency alerts, please text SSUALERTS to 6728.
During a smoke or fire event you must stay in close contact with your homestay family and the International Student Coordinator.
Additional information and resources for wildfires, smoke and PSPS events can be found at:
• US EPA AirNow website “Fires and Your Health” https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-and-health/how-smoke-from-fires-can-a...
• EPA Indoor Air Quality https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq
• Wildfire Smoke Factsheet: Protect Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke or Ash https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/smoke_fires/respiratory-protection-508.pdf
• Sonoma State University Library’s Resource Guide to Wildfires https://libguides.sonoma.edu/wildfire
• Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Emergency Preparedness Power Shut Off Fact Page https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/emergency-preparedness/natural-disaster...