6:17 p.m., January 9, 2025

Dear SMC community:
We have been devastated, watching the fires in the Los Angeles area that have resulted in tragic losses of life, homes, entire communities, and many lifetimes’ worth of memories. It is a catastrophe that has upended thousands of lives and leaves a trail of destruction that is incomprehensible.
Many within the SMC community including colleagues, students, and their families have had to evacuate, lost homes, or are under evacuation warnings. College leadership and the Emergency Operations Team have been monitoring the conditions around all of SMC’s campuses. The SMC Police Department and Maintenance & Operations have been monitoring the college’s campuses for damage and ensuring that our facilities are ready for on ground operations serving students and colleagues as soon as conditions are right. The SMC IT Department has checked our networks to ensure communication systems are working properly.
We are mobilizing and partnering with state and local officials on ways to extend resources and support to those in our community who are directly impacted.
If you have been impacted by the fires:
A curated webpage has been put together and will continually be updated with community-based
resources for students, faculty, and staff. It can be found by visiting smc.edu/disasterrelief. Please check this page if you or someone you know needs support.
We would like to be able to offer relevant support as needed to those most directly impacted. If you feel comfortable, please notify your respective manager(s) if you were affected or displaced by the fires. Human Resources will attempt to capture this information and reach out to you directly to provide assistance.
If you become aware of students who have been impacted by the fires:
As you encounter students who are experiencing basic needs insecurity, symptoms of
trauma, or need additional support, please contact the Care and Prevention Team (CPT), the Basic Needs Department, and/or the Center for Wellness and Wellbeing to determine appropriate intervention and/or resources.
The Santa Monica Community College Disaster Support Fund has been established to support SMC students, faculty, and staff impacted by the fires. This fund will help provide resources for temporary housing, food, water, clothing, transportation, and school materials to support immediate needs. If you are able, please donate to support our campus community.
The college’s leadership and Emergency Operations Team will continue to monitor this crisis around the clock as we have been doing since the fires broke out. We will do our utmost to provide helpful, timely, and accurate information so please continue to check your SMC email, SMC social media, and the college website regularly.
The recent fire events across LA area and neighboring communities have been witnessed not only locally, but also across the state and the nation. There is heartfelt care and compassion for all touched by this devastation. Our hearts are with all who have lost loved ones, homes, irreplaceable photos, and personal treasures. We are tremendously grateful to the first responders and everyone working to mitigate the fires that have ravaged the beautiful communities we call home. In the spirit of how we do things at SMC, we will work together to navigate the tremendous losses of our SMC family to find our way through this.
Kathryn E. Jeffery, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President