PUSD Schools Closed on Monday Due to Tropical Storm Hilary

The Pasadena Unified School District announced Sunday afternoon that schools will be closed on Monday.

“The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for Hurricane Hilary from now until Monday night that will affect Los Angeles County and areas of Southern California with high winds. A flash flood warning has been issued for Southern L.A. County with a potential several inches of water and higher in certain areas,” said Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco in a statement released late Sunday afternoon. 

“We are advised to continue preparing for the impacts of the storm and expect roadway flooding, wind damage, and power outages.  With the safety and well-being of our students, employees, and their families as our highest priority, we have decided to close PUSD schools tomorrow, Monday, August 21, 2023.”

Athletic events and any third-party activities on PUSD campuses were also canceled. The Superintendent’s Leadership Team, school administrators, and maintenance and operations workers, including head custodians, are required to report to their sites at 10 a.m. on Monday. 

 If it is unsafe for employees to travel, they are to talk with their supervisors. Other employees are to stay at home unless they hear from their supervisors.  

Schools are expected to reopen on Tuesday. 

“I think it’s best for the safety of our students and our staff,” School Board President Michelle Richardson Bailey told Pasadena Now on Sunday. 

Hilary weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm early Sunday, and brought heavy rain to Pasadena, which was expected to diminish on Monday.   

Despite the decision to close, the District’s weekly robocalls announcing school news and events still went out at 5 p.m. on Sunday, saying schools would be open.

Los Angeles Unified also announced plans that its schools would be closed on Monday.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center is currently active.

Pasadena Mayor Gordo joined Fire Chief Chad Augustin and Police Chief Gene Harris in a press conference to brief Pasadena residents on the latest storm information and the state of the City’s readiness.

A shelter opened at Villa Parke at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. It was to be staffed overnight for at least 67 clients who will transition out Monday afternoon.

The storm made landfall near San Diego early Sunday afternoon and was expected to cause life-threatening to locally catastrophic flash, urban and arroyo flooding including landslides, mudslides, and debris flows through early Monday morning.”

A flash flood warning was also issued until 7:45 p.m. Sunday for Long Beach, Malibu, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal City, downtown Los Angeles, Griffith Park, Culver City, Inglewood, Burbank, North Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Encino, Manhattan Beach, Alhambra and Hermosa Beach.

Southland residents were especially urged to avoid driving, hiking or going to the beach during the storm.