Health Advisory: Wildfire Smoke

October 25, 2019

Air Quality Update

We are expecting that the smoke from Kincaid and other wildfires in Northern California may cause worsening air quality in the Bay Area over the weekend and into next week.  With the power outage, it may be more challenging to find buildings with filtered air; please know that the campus, with its backup generator systems, is prioritizing maintaining air filtration along with other critical power needs during the blackout. Please see our Wildfire / Air Quality Smoke resource page.

N-95 Masks Information

UHS has a limited supply of N95 respirators for use in emergencies including but not limited to wildfires. 

During an Air Quality Event students with asthma, who are pregnant, or who have other underlying medical conditions that put them at high risk of adverse effects can receive a single respirator with instruction at UHS, while supplies last. 

  • If you have symptoms, please make an appointment or, if urgent, go to Urgent Care for assessment and triage.
  • If you do not have symptoms, and it is between 9 am-4 pm, please go to the Education Center (off the main lobby), where we have clinical staff available to evaluate, assist, and dispense/fit a respirator if needed.
  • If you do not fall into one of the categories above, please do not request an N-95 here.  Local hardware stores and online retailers carry, and campus may be providing some if conditions persist.
  • N-95 respirators cost $2 when dispensed by clinical staff, and CANNOT be purchased at our pharmacy.

Most Important

Stay inside in a designated clean-air building! It is much more helpful than a mask and you won’t need to wear one.

Clean air buildings currently with power:

  • Moffitt Library will remain open 24 hours a day.
  • East Asian Library (5-10 pm Monday and at 9 am on Tuesday)
  • Berkeley Public Libraries

Power Outage Update

The Tang Center expects to be open for business as usual during our normal hours of 8 am - 6 pm this week, although with some potentially reduced access depending on staffing.  Please note that our satellite locations, aside from the Anna Head Satellite Offices, are closed when there are building closures. 

Medication Storage

Students needing storage of medications that require refrigeration should be directed to go to the UHS pharmacy during its open hours. We have limited capacity in our fridge and expect to be on generator power so will be evaluating medication requests as they come in, and advising if refrigeration is not needed. (Many medications that say they need refrigeration in fact may not) 

Campus Updates:

Please check the Berkeley News page for updated campus information regarding the Power Outage and campus resources.

City of Berkeley Resources:

Berkeley residents who are impacted have access to the following services:

  • If you have power-dependent medical needs, please call 311 from a Berkeley landline or 510-981-2489 from a cell phone between 7am and 7pm to let us know what those specific needs are so that we can help determine what other individualized resources might be available. 311 will also have information about community resources.
  • Easy Does it Dispatch Line (24/7): 510-704-2411 will be available for Berkeley community members.
  • Free wi-fi will be provided 24/7 outside all Berkeley libraries. All libraries will be open during regular hours which will have charging stations for people to recharge batteries of electronic devices.

Some Suggestions for Getting Through a Power Shutoff

  • Charge your electronics. But if you have a modern vehicle, keeping your cell phone charged is not going to be a challenge. You can charge it from your car. Likewise for your other devices with a USB connection.

  • Since you are going to be using your car as a generator. Make sure it has fuel. Fill your gas tank.

  • Charge any USB LED lights. 

  • Store water: No electricity for long periods could mean problems with water delivery due to lack of power for pumping.

  • Refrigeration may be the biggest challenge. The first and easiest thing to do is to turn your freezer setting to its lowest level NOW to bring the freezer to the minimum possible temperature.

  • If you have more than 12 hours before the shutoff, it probably makes sense to fill containers with water and have your freezer turn them into ice. That is the best thermal mass to keep your freezer cold. You can also transfer some of that frozen mass to your refrigerator to help keep it cold.

 Be well, stay safe, and cross your fingers that this is over soon!