UVic Emergency Response Plan
The UVic Emergency Response Plan outlines how the university prepares for, responds to and recovers from emergencies that affect people, property or the environment.
The plan is guided by the British Columbia Emergency Management System (BCEMS), a recognized standard used by the Province of BC, local governments and emergency response agencies across the province.
Our priorities
During an emergency, UVic follows the BCEMS Goals (in priority order):
- Ensure the health and safety of responders
- Save lives
- Reduce suffering
- Protect public health
- Protect infrastructure
- Protect property
- Protect the environment
- Reduce economic and social losses
Response teams
When an incident is too large or complex to be managed through normal processes, UVic activates one or more specialized response teams.
| Team | Role in an emergency |
|---|---|
| Site Response Team | coordinates activities at the site of the emergency or disrupting event |
| Emergency Operations Centre | provides site-support and/or central coordination during events of longer duration or greater complexity, scale or impact |
| Executive Policy Group | provides strategic decision-making and communication with the university community, Board of Governors, stakeholders, members of the public and the media |
The Site Response Team and/or Emergency Operations Centre may be activated when:
- the event threatens the health, safety or environment of the campus community, or disrupts university operations; or
- the event requires coordination beyond day-to-day teams or authority.
Other emergency response teams include:
- Campus Security Services
- Building Emergency Team
- Department Operations Centres
- Emergency Call Centre
- Emergency First Aid Unit
- Rapid Damage Assessment Team
On- and off-campus emergencies scope
The UVic Emergency Response Plan applies to both on- and off-campus incidents, including significant events involving university students, faculty or staff who are traveling for UVic-sanctioned activities.
More information
To learn more about UVic’s emergency response framework, contact the emergency planner.