TO: All Employees
FR: Kendall Newman, Operations Manager for Risk Management and Safety Services
Campus colleagues,
The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for parts of Sonoma County, including the Sonoma State campus. The alert begins at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 3 and continues through 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6. This alert estimates temperatures to reach upwards of 100 degrees in Rohnert Park during this time period.
While temperatures increase in the region, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) has also issued a Flex Alert requesting residents to voluntarily reduce energy consumption today, September 1 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. due to anticipated high use and high temperatures across the grid. All Californias are asked to make this reduction to prevent the requirement of rolling blackouts.
At this time, SSU does NOT fall within a category that anticipates potential power losses or outages. However, there is a risk that our campus may face unplanned outages due to the ISO alert and high temperatures. Please consider the following energy-conserving measures today and tomorrow:
- Monitor yourself for heat-related exposures and stay hydrated, especially when outdoors.
- Review the Heat Illness Prevention Program and take any steps prescribed when working outdoors.
- Reduce lights in areas that are not occupied or are otherwise lit by natural light.
- Power down monitors, computers, printers, and other electronic devices before leaving campus for any period of time (including over the holiday weekend).
- Reduce the number of devices plugged into sources, when items are not in use.
Employees who work outdoors should take precautions to protect and care for themselves as outlined in the Heat Illness Prevention Program.
For any incident-related questions or concerns please email emergency@sonoma.edu.
We will continue to monitor conditions, and update the campus as we get more information. Please also continue to check this website for Regional Updates.