fire

[Westmont Parent]

Fabulous! I just called my daughter and she assures me that the RA's were very organized and ALL students are accounted for! Even the students who were not on campus at the time. It is just a matter of time before they are able to contact you. Love and Blessings
Oh, let's try that trick,didn't work. Let's try this,look at your phone:Pastor G,t,oper,j,p,a,w,oper,oper,g,t Brett Merrick t,oper,j,p,a,w,oper,oper,t,m Ryan Miller t,oper,j,p,a,w,oper,m,m,oper

[Westmont Aunt]

My sister was able to pick up my nephew from Campus this morning. He was allowed in to Clark M to fetch medication and I.D.(laptop and Ipod came, too! He is a college student...) He said his room, toward the middle, was fine. Damage seems to be at both ends of the building. He was told to assume classes would resume on Monday unless he hears otherwise.

[Another Westmont Parent]

As a parent, I was so amazed to receive emails from the parents@westmont & the alum@ westmont--to these two groups--thank you!! This is my son's first year so I was unaware of this fantastic service!!! My son lives off camus but was told to evacuate their apt last night. I've spoken w/ him this AM. I am praying for all.

[Lisa]

I think the school has done a fantastic job of communicating. Let's remember they were fighting a fire all night. I know one faculty member who spent all night helping students while his own home burned to the ground. I'm sure there were many faculty doing the same.

[Colorado Mom]

While I was frustrated last night not to have more information, I was so glad they were busy taking care of our beloved children. My daughter told me that Mark, the RD, practically yelled at the firefighters as they were trying to save his home, asking them to save the students' dorms instead. How blessed we are that our students are surrounded by people who truly love them. I can't imagine how much closer everyone will be having gone through this together. FYI, for those whose students lost personal items in the fire, I talked to State Farm and they said my homeowners' insurance will cover my daughter's personal belongings.

[worried mom]

I am by no means intending any negativity on the part of the actions last night by the school in taking care of the children.
I did not receive any emails, that would have helped a lot.
I'm sure they will all be helping each other out, that's the spirit of the place.
Glad everyone is ok.

[yeats]

Colorado Mom wrote:

. FYI, for those whose students lost personal items in the fire, I talked to State Farm and they said my homeowners' insurance will cover my daughter's personal belongings.

Our insurance company was incredibly helpful they will pay for hotel, meals, clothes and other expenses while our son is displaced in addition to personal belongings ..... I was pleasantly surprised......

I too am grateful for the Westmont community including those parents on this board who blessed me late into the night ad early morning as I tried to get relevant info ... the school did an awesome job in teh circumstances they were in iwht what they had to work with and they took great care f our kids ... praise GOD ......I am so sad about Mark the RD and his home of 20 plus years ...what can we do?

[Sibling]

Thank you so much for the info on the Homeowner's Insuranc... I just passed this information on to my parents.

[sibling]

does anyone know if classes are to resume on Monday?

[Sibling]

I'm wondering the same thing. Last I heard, classes were on Monday unless otherwise notified.

[Sibling]

From Westmont.edu

"The executive team is meeting 8 p.m. Monday evening, Nov. 17, to make a decision about restarting classes, which will not begin any earlier than Wednesday, Nov. 19."

[parent]

From the Westmont website--

Westmont Wildfire Relief Fund

On November 13, 2008, the Santa Barbara Tea fire reached Westmont college's campus. All Westmont College students, faculty, staff and guests are safe and well, and most buildings are intact less than 24 hours after a wildfire raced through campus.

In response to this emergency the college has established a wildfire relief fund. Those wishing to contribute may do so by making a check payable to Westmont College and indicate on your check it is for Wildfire Relief. Or you may do so online.

Here is the link to send money to them online-

https://secure.westmont.edu/forms/giving/dona...

[Bonk5]

worried mom wrote:

I am by no means intending any negativity on the part of the actions last night by the school in taking care of the children.
I did not receive any emails, that would have helped a lot.
I'm sure they will all be helping each other out, that's the spirit of the place.
Glad everyone is ok.

To worried mom are you on the email distribution list? we got emails from the parent groups. The info was similar to what was on the website.
My daughter a sophomore is on her way home. We are in San Jose. She stayed a a fellow students' house last night. Thank God all kids and faculty, staff are ok! so sad tho
Bon

[Catherine]

While I have no student at Westmont I am an Alumi. The wonderful thing about Westmont is the way you leave your heart there and the community. Thank you for all the updates. I am glad that everyone is okay, but sad for the loss of buildings that hold so many memories.

[Kai]

More information on the Tea Fire, especially as it relates to Westmont College can be found at:

http://kaischraml.wordpress.com/

[Healdsburg CA Parent]

I could not be more pleased with how Westmont has
handled the fire with my freshman daughter. They were dealing with 1000 persons, in a swiftly changing, dangerous situation, and I applaud them, neighbors in the area also sheltered at Westmont and thank God we could take them in too. We live in Northern CA and just picked our daughter up in Los Gatos, she rode up to that community with other students coming in to the bay area until they can return to campus next week. The ride from Los Gatos to our home (3 hours) was filled with stories of self sacrifice by the staff for our children at the expense of protecting or packing up their own homes and being with their own families. What an incredible blessing to have my only child attend a school where the phrase laying down your life is applied in whatever measure needed at the time, by men and women of character and commitment. I am eternally grateful.
I am wondering what can I do for those kids who lost their belongs, laptops and the wonderful extended family at Westmont who have much work ahead as they prepare the way for getting back to school, while re-building their lives at home.

[yeats]

worried mom wrote:

I
I did not receive any emails, that would have helped a lot.

Hey do you know about the conference call tonight at 3 California time? Go to the Westmont website and it gives the number ..... it came in an email and I wanted you to know ... hope you get this!!!

[Healdsburg CA Parent]

send the number the page hosting all the call info. is no longer accessible for me.
thanks!

[Santa Rosa Parent]

Westmont's newspaper "The Horizon" has the recording from the conference call.

http://horizon.westmont.edu/

(quoted from Westmont's website)

11:18 a.m., Saturday, Nov 15, 2008

Westmont College has scheduled a conference call for Saturday afternoon, November 15, at 3 p.m. for President Beebe to give a short update on the campus and other information. The phone number to dial at 3 p.m. to participate in this call is 866-814-8482.

On Monday evening, November 17, at 9 p.m. President Beebe will provide an update regarding when classes will resume and when students, faculty and staff will be allowed to return to campus. In addition President Beebe will answer any other questions. The phone number to participate in this call is 866-259-1024.

In addition to frequently checking the Westmont Web site, please feel free to contact members of the Parents Council or the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations with any questions or concerns.

[Santa Rosa Parent]

Access to student rooms

Students will eventually be allowed into their rooms once Westmont has determined it is safe to return to campus and enter the residence hall buildings. The campus must be out of further fire danger, and buildings must be cleared of smoke and deemed structurally safe for entry. If a student's room has been affected by fire, Westmont will determine if and when it is safe for a student or family members to attempt to retrieve personal belongings from any material left behind by the blaze.

Future plans for displaced students

Westmont is working diligently to find permanent on-campus housing for those students who were living in the Clark Halls complex and have had their rooms destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the fire. One of Westmont's strengths is its residential campus, giving students the opportunity to interact and live in community. We are committed to minimizing this disruption and finding the best living solution for our students as quickly as possible.