Southern California Edison (SCE) has initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program when weather conditions may create an elevated fire risk. Due to strong weather conditions this week, SCE notified IUSD that Eastwood, Santiago Hills and Stonegate elementary schools, along with Northwood High School, may be subject to a power outage beginning early tomorrow.
If this happens, each school will communicate with families as soon as possible by email, text message and voicemail. Check these sources first before heading to school. Information will also be posted on school websites, social media, IUSD.org and District social media sites.
Please understand that IUSD has no control over power outages or notification times from SCE. While SCE has communicated to the District that it will strive to provide advance notice, it cannot guarantee notification times due to changing and/or uncertain weather and fire conditions. As soon as the District and our schools have information, we will immediately communicate with our community.
Click here for more SCE shutoff information and alerts.
IUSD Planning and Response
To help mitigate disruptions to education, IUSD and our schools have plans in place to prepare for possible power outages. As part of this process, we will consider conditions and the possible length of any power outage to determine the impact on schools and their ability to maintain a viable and safe learning environment. Depending on this variable information, schools and IUSD will make the decision to either keep school open or closed in the event of a PSPS. The IUSD Emergency Management team has plans and resources that may help keep schools open if possible.
Stay Connected to IUSD
In the event of a PSPS, schools will communicate with families as quickly as possible. Staying connected to IUSD and your school is as easy as 1,2,3.
- Check your email, text messages and voicemail – Make sure your contact information is up to date in Parent Portal and that you know who is authorized to pick your child(ren) up from school in the event of an emergency.
- Visit our school website and/or iusd.org for updates and important information
- Check District social media for real-time updates and information:
- Facebook: facebook.com/irvineunifiedschooldistrict
- Twitter: twitter.com/iusd
- Instagram: instagram.com/irvine_unified
Please note, if you unsubscribed from school or District emails, you will not receive important updates during an emergency. To re-subscribe, email helpdesk@iusd.org. To make sure you are signed up for text messages, text "Y" to 67587 from each wireless device you wish to receive texts on.
IUSD Collaboration with Key Agencies
Although IUSD has no control over when and where these power shutoffs occur, the District will continue to work closely with SCE and other agencies, such as the Irvine Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, to provide you with accurate information as quickly as possible. IUSD’s collaborative relationships with key agencies and local first responders, helps ensure we are prepared for these types of events.
What You Can Do
Now that you know what schools and IUSD are doing to prepare, below are links to important information from the Irvine Police Department and IUSD to help you and your family prepare for emergencies. Emergency preparedness is a community partnership and planning now can help keep families safe and help our community recover from a large scale event.
- Learn More About IUSD Safety Resources
- Stay Connected to IUSD
- Make a Plan for your family
- Assemble Disaster Supply Kits for Home, Work and the Car
- Register Your Phones for AlertOC
- Learn More About the City’s Community Emergency Response Team
- General Emergency Preparedness Information and Resources
The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our priority and we appreciate your partnership and understanding.