USC's emergency response plan incorporates a range of specific measures coordinated by the university's Crisis Management Team, Department of Public Safety, and Office of Fire Safety and Emergency Planning to ensure the safety of the campus community.

Emergency Operations Centers

In the event of a campus-wide emergency requiring a coordinated response by multiple departments, the USC Department of Public Safety will activate designated Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) on the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.

These self-powered facilities are outfitted with high-tech communications equipment and will be staffed by members of the Emergency Operations Group (consisting of the heads of DPS, Facilities Management Services, University Public Affairs, Information Technology Services, USC Housing, USC Transportation, USC Hospitality, medical units and the Division of Student Affairs). They are responsible for coordinating rescue efforts, assessing damage and triaging information during a crisis, as well as dispatching emergency response teams to other campus areas as needed.

Volunteer Emergency Response Teams

Volunteer emergency response teams play a major role in emergency preparedness at USC.

• Building Emergency Response Teams (BERTs): Each of the university's 225 buildings has a trained emergency response team that will provide immediate guidance to students, faculty, staff and visitors in the event of a campus emergency. More than 1,800 volunteers have been assigned to these teams.
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs): USC's CERT members include more than 150 volunteers who have completed seven weeks of intensive training in disaster fire suppression, search and rescue, disaster triage and first aid, and disaster management, following the nationally recognized Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program.
• Resident Adviser Emergency Teams: Resident advisers in all university-owned residence halls have been trained in fire safety and emergency response and will play a key role in emergency response during off hours, when staff teams may not be on campus

Disaster Medical Response Team

USC's Disaster Medical Response Team is composed of more than 100 trained members from the University Park Health Center, The Doctors of USC, USC School of Dentistry, School of Pharmacy, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Keck School of Medicine of USC and other units who will provide medical triage and first aid in the event of a major disaster.

Disaster Mental Health Response Team

The USC Office of Work and Family Life, School of Social Work, Office of Religious Life, and Student Support and Advocacy have formed a team to provide counseling services for victims as well as university responders in the event of a major disaster.

Hazardous Materials Response Team

The USC Department of Environmental Health and Safety's expertly trained Hazardous Materials Response Team will assist with inspection, clean-up and removal of any hazardous materials spilled or released on the University Park or Health Sciences campus.