Emergency Contacts, Response and Preparedness
| Emergency Location | Office | Call |
|---|---|---|
| Caltech On-Campus | Caltech Security |
5000 from a Caltech land-line phone. 626-395-5000 from a cell phone. |
| JPL On-Lab | JPL Protective Services Division |
911 from a JPL land-line phone. 818-354-3333 or 818-393-3333 from a cell phone. |
| Off-campus and off-lab | Local police, fire, or emergency services | 911. You do not need to dial an area code. |
Caltech Security's non-emergency number is 626-395-4701.
JPL Protective Services Division https://psd.jpl.nasa.gov/ (JPL VPN required) Security Dispatch Console's non-emergency number is 818-354-3530.
Your health insurance provider may require you to use specific facilities. Please review this information with your insurance provider before you have an emergency or a situation that requires a visit to urgent care or the hospital emergency room (ER). Also, ask for the costs of urgent care and ER.
Emergency: call 911
If you have an off-campus life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 immediately, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. 911 responders will dispatch an ambulance to transport you to the nearest hospital.
Huntington Hospital • 100 W. California Boulevard, Pasadena (5-minute drive from Caltech)
Student Wellness Services - On Campus
During regular business hours, Caltech students may seek help and care at Student Wellness Services, which offers free, confidential, individual health, counseling, and occupational therapy services.
Urgent Care Center
Urgent care is not for a life-threatening medical need. Doctors at urgent care centers treat minor cuts, skin rashes, sprains, colds, coughs, fevers, abdominal pain, broken bones and more. They do not treat life-threatening medical needs.
Student Wellness Services • Only for Caltech students. If it is closed, Caltech students should visit an off-campus urgent care center.
Optum Urgent Care • 797 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena
Exer More Than Urgent • 3160 E. Del Mar Avenue, Pasadena
Exer More Than Urgent (near JPL) • 475 Foothill Boulevard, Suite K, La Canada
UrgentMed • 600 S. Lake Avenue, Suite 105, Pasadena
QuickStop Urgent Care • 797 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena
Mental Health: Caltech Staff, Postdocs & Faculty - On Campus
Caltech staff, postdocs, visitors, faculty, and their family members may seek and get help and care for mental health at the Staff and Faculty Consultation Center which offers free, confidential, individual consultation services.
Caltech. The Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Program at Caltech provides guidance on emergency issues that may arise at the Institute.
JPL. Emergency Preparedness/Response (JPL VPN required) at JPL provides comprehensive guidance on a wide range of possible threats on lab and at home.
Living in Southern California means needing to be prepared for earthquakes and other natural disasters.
These sites offer advice on how to prepare for an earthquake:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides a real-time map of the earthquakes that occur regularly in the region.
Download earthquake apps on your phone to get localized early warnings. You can move to safety in just a few seconds
Wildfires are common in Southern California. You may live in an area at risk of wildfires. Create a Wildfire Action Plan for you, your family, and your pets.
Track wildfires with CalMatters Wildfire Map Tracker and the National Interagency Fire Center Maps.
Before you go hiking in local mountain areas, check to see if there are wildfires on your hiking trail: https://hikingguy.com/how-to-hike/is-there-a-wildfire-on-my-hike-wildfire-tips-for-hikers/
What to do after a disaster
The International Offices at Caltech and JPL will provide you with immigration information and guidance during this crisis.
What documents are important to locate?
You should try to locate your original immigration documents:
- passport and I-94
- J-1 and J-2: DS-2019
- F-1 and F-2: I-20
- J-2 and F-1 OPT/STEM OPT: EAD
- H-1B, O-1 (and possibly TN and E-3): I-797 approval notices.
Other documents not directly related to immigration include: birth certificates, marriage certificates, and social security cards.
How do you replace lost documents?
If you have lost your passport, you should contact your home country's Consulate or Embassy in the United States. The International Offices have electronic records. Please contact our offices to determine whether we have any copies of documents that you need.
What help can you expect from the U.S. government?
In previous disasters, U.S. government agencies have provided allowances for individuals impacted by the events. While we cannot anticipate specific government actions in this disaster, on occasion, extensions for upcoming deadlines have been granted and files reconstructed.
J and F students and scholars: if you are unable to reach anyone at the International Offices at Caltech and JPL, please look at SEVP's website, Study in the States and BridgeUSA's website for information and guidance. You can also email the Student and Exchange Visitor Program at SEVP@ice.dhs.gov, or call (703) 603-3400 to report your location and contact information.
What help can you expect from the International Offices?
Once we know the extent of the disaster, and you have made decisions about whether to remain at Caltech, whether to relocate to another institution in the United States or abroad, the International Offices will provide you with guidance and information relating to your specific circumstance.
Options we may be able to assist you with include transferring your F-1 or J-1 record to another U.S. institution, applying for student employment authorization, filing extensions of status applications, and communicating with government agencies.
What should I do if my Consulate is planning for my evacuation?
We recommend that you follow the advice given by your home country. In the event that you leave Pasadena or the United States, please inform Caltech before your departure.
What if I want to return to the United States in the future?
You may need new documents from Caltech, or copies of your former documents. In which case, please contact the International Offices at Caltech and JPL so that we can help you.
What should I do if I am currently outside the United States?
Please delay your entry to the United States until the extent of the disaster is known. If you have not yet started your program, please communicate with the Caltech administration to determine whether or not you will need to postpone your arrival. If you are a current Caltech student, postdoc or staff member, please contact the Dean's office, the Graduate Office, or your faculty advisor to find out about the lab's plans. The International Offices will provide guidance and information related to your specific circumstance as resources permit.
Caltech. You may contact Ilana Smith, Director, International Offices at ilana.smith@caltech.edu or iss@caltech.edu.
JPL. You may contact the JPL International Office at visa@jpl.nasa.gov.
Travelers on Caltech or JPL Business. If you are on Caltech or JPL business travel and need emergency legal assistance, you may contact the Office of General Counsel (OGC). During business hours, you may contact OGC at 626.395.6182 or 818.354.0999. After hours, Caltech employees can reach an OGC staff member via Caltech Security at their non-emergency number 626.395.4701. JPL employees can reach an OGC staff member via JPL Security at their non-emergency numbers 818.354.3530 or 818.354.4160.
After Entry into the United States. If you encountered any difficulty at a U.S. port of entry and you would like to inform the Institute about your experience, please report it to Ilana Smith, Director, International Offices at ilana.smith@caltech.edu or iss@caltech.edu.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website is for general information only. Caltech/JPL does not endorse or recommend any of the organizations listed.