Office of Emergency Management

Firefighters standing in front of a Fire Truck

Office of Emergency Management

About Us

The UC Riverside Office of Emergency Management takes a proactive, all-hazards approach to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and disruptions. By coordinating campus-wide planning and safety resources, the office safeguards students, faculty, and staff to maintain a safe, resilient environment for living, learning, and working.

UCR CERT PROGRAM IS COMING

We are excited to introduce a new initiative to strengthen our campus resilience and emergency preparedness: the University of California, Riverside Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.

What is UCR CERT?

The CERT program is a nationally recognized initiative, adapted for UCR, that trains volunteers from our campus community—students, faculty, and staff—in basic disaster response skills. CERT is about empowering individuals to make a difference. In an emergency, first responders may be delayed, and CERT-trained volunteers can provide immediate, critical support until professional help arrives.

This program is 100% voluntary and offers essential training in:

  • Disaster Preparedness: Assessing hazards and preparing yourself and your workspace.
  • Fire Safety: Basic fire suppression and utility controls.
  • Disaster Medical Operations: Triage, treating life-threatening injuries, and basic first aid.
  • Light Search and Rescue: Safe search techniques and victim removal.
  • Team Organization: Coordinating with other CERT members and professional responders.

Why UCR Needs CERT

The safety of our campus is a collective responsibility. By participating in CERT, you are not only gaining valuable lifesaving skills for yourself and your family but are also becoming a crucial asset to the entire UCR community. UCR CERT volunteers will form a trained network capable of assisting in campus emergencies, large or small.

Join Us!

We are currently building our inaugural CERT interest list. If you are interested in learning more, attending an information session, or signing up for the training, please join our interest list.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3Yh9K0iq0diNiI6DwOIlv2sYABsREzurzXQeoI0XrIVbo1A/viewform

This is an opportunity to learn vital skills, meet fellow dedicated campus members, and contribute directly to making UCR a safer, more resilient place for everyone. No prior experience is necessary.

Together, we can create a safer UCR.

Mission

Prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters or emergencies that affect UCR's ability to maintain a safe, secure living, learning, and working environment.   

Vision 

Fostering collaborative actions and appropriate decisions creates a proactive, all-hazard culture of preparedness for a resilient campus. 

Values

  • Collaborative - Sustain sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust and a team atmosphere that facilitates communication.
  • Comprehensive - Consider all hazards, phases, stakeholders, and impacts relevant to disasters or human-made events;
  • Coordinated - Synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose;
  • Flexible - Use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges;
  • Integrated - Foster the unity of effort among all levels of the campus and local community partners; 
  • Risk-Driven - Introduce sound risk management principles (hazard vulnerability, risk and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources;
  • Professional - Utilize a knowledge-based approach with training, ethical practice, public stewardship, and constructive improvement.

Emergency Notification System (ENS)

The Emergency Notification System (ENS) is used to notify the campus about an emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of the university community. The ENS comprises several approaches to quickly and reliably distribute communications or instructions in an emergency. 

UCR's ENS effectively keeps all Highlanders safe and informed, ensuring a safe campus environment. UCR Faculty, Staff, and Students should update their mobile phone number(s) on file. Faculty and Staff can learn how to update in UC Path ticket, and students can update information in Banner; please see the FAQs on verifying your mobile phone number(s).

Subscribe to Emergency Notifications: Visitors text UCRSAFE to 226787.  Parents text UCRPARENT to 67283 *SMS and data messaging rates may apply.

Emergency Notification

  • When a verified dangerous situation exists on campus that could impact the immediate health or safety of our campus community (e.g., a dangerous person, fires, chemical release or other event requiring immediate action), or
  • When the UCR administration has determined that immediate notification would assist in locating an offender or
  • When urgent conditions affect the status of the campus (e.g., earthquake, weather, wildfire, etc.)

Once initiated, the Emergency Notification System includes several tools that could be used to disseminate critical information or instructions, which may include text/SMS messaging, verbal broadcasts from the campus belltower, messaging displayed on University computer screens, email, voicemail to campus phones, UCR websites, and Official UCR social media sites. When you receive or see an emergency message, it is essential that you follow instructions and tell others around you.

Installing Alertus

Alertus is a mass notification system used at UC Riverside to notify students, staff, faculty, and visitors of campus emergencies. Alertus Desktop is a small application installed on desktops, laptops, and monitors throughout campus. It displays an emergency notification directly to the computer's display.  Information Technology Solutions recommends that everyone with a UCR-issued computer install the Alertus Desktop application. Having the Alertus Desktop application installed on your desktop is an effective way to receive critical information and instructions during an emergency, when seconds and minutes matter. 

install alertus

Monthly Alertus Test

The campus conducts an Alertus Bell Tower Speaker Test on the First Friday of the month at 12:00 PM (Noon). During this time, you will hear multiple tones periodically from the Bell Tower. A loud, steady siren will sound, varying in intensity and type, and verbal instructions will be heard. UC Riverside is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all campus stakeholders. An important aspect of this commitment is ongoing testing and refinement of the various communications technologies, systems, and processes used during emergencies.

UCR Safe 

UCR Safe App with text: Download today! Available on the App Store and Google Store. Features include Friend Walk, Emergency Contacts, and Campus Alerts

 

Now available for Download:

Apple App Store  

Google Play Store

UCR Safe is our Highlander Community's one-stop for safety resources, connecting faculty, staff, and students with on-campus resources, real-time safety services, emergency information, and more.  Ensure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.  Download UCR Safe today!

FAQ'S