Good evening,
We are watching in horror as fires rip through our region, knowing that hundreds of our faculty, staff and students are likely impacted. Our hearts are with all of you and everyone in our local communities who have been affected.
If you have been evacuated, lost your home, or do not know yet, please know that CU Boulder stands with you. In the coming days, we will review possible spring term operational changes in order to support our campus community.
Boulder County residents affected should also monitor the Boulder Office of Emergency Management website for updates and resources.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office is urging people with questions about their homes or the status of the fire to call 303-413-7730.
Campus support resources are also available to help.
The first priority in any emergency situation is safety. Beyond physical safety, unexpected natural disasters such as the one we are experiencing in and around the Boulder region can be devastating to our wellbeing. These events may additionally cause significant disruption to our lives or lives of those we care about.
CU Boulder community members impacted may apply for emergency funds via the Student Emergency Fund and Staff & Faculty Emergency Fund.
For those who want to donate to those in need during this time, you can do that via Buffs Together. We will be in touch in the coming days and weeks with volunteer opportunities.
It is perfectly normal to experience a heightened sense of worry and alertness.
If you are finding that your worries are detrimental to your basic functioning or if you are needing to process the traumatic event, it may be time to reach out to a close friend, trusted community leader or professional counselor.
The Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) is available to all CU Boulder community members experiencing major life disruptions, and provides free, confidential counseling, advocacy, information and referrals. OVA is available 24/7 at 303-492-8855; press menu option 2. Please note that when OVA returns calls they will usually be coming from a blocked or restricted number.
Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential mental health services for students. They can be reached 24/7 at 303-492-2277.
The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) offers counseling and consulting services to employees, both in-person and via telehealth. FSAP can be reached at 303-492-3020.
We understand that for many of you, there will be a long recovery from this traumatic event, and our university and campus community will support you in every way that we can.
Sincerely,
Philip DiStefano, Chancellor