Emergencies & Disasters

Disasters typically strike without notice. Knowing how to react in the event of an earthquake, tsunami or fire can greatly affect how you get through a severe crisis. HSEM has developed comprehensive response plans for all types of disasters. We’ve also put together the following list of the most common natural and man-made disasters that could affect the UCSF community, along with links to additional information.

Natural Disasters

Climate-related:

Severe flooding, tsunamis, tornadoes, ice storms, severe heat, drought, fires

Geologic:

Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides and avalanches

• American Red Cross Bay Area
• California Office of Emergency Services
• FEMA
• US Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program
• Locating Residences Within 500 Feet of California Earthquake Faults
• Home Earthquake Preparedness - Matt Springer

Public Health Emergencies

• UCSF Human Resources Common Questions on Emergencies
• UCSF Enterprise Public Health and Pandemic Emergency Plans
• UCSF Medical Center Outbreak (Epidemic/Pandemic) Response Policy
• UCSF Occupational Health Program

Epidemics and Pandemics

• California Department of Education: School Pandemic Flu Planning
• DHHS: Pandemic Flu Plan
• DHHS: Pandemic Flu Information
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists: Pandemic Flu Plans
• State Pandemic Flu Plans
• San Francisco Department of Public Health: Communicable Disease Control and Prevention

Foodborne

• CDC: Diagnosis and Management of Foodborne Illnesses: A Primer for Physicians

Waterborne

• CDC: Water-Related Outbreak Response

Vector-borne

• CDC: Vector-borne Disease Surveillance

Man-made Disasters

Radiation

• Radiation Emergency Assistance Center Training
• UCSF Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS): Radioactive Spill Procedure

Hazardous Chemicals

• Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
• OEHS: Hazardous Spill Information
• OEHS: Material Safety Data Sheet

Biological

• CDC: Emergency Preparedness and Response

Poisonous Substances

• California Poison Control System

Occupational Health Emergencies

• UCSF Occupational Health Program

Fire

• Surviving a Fire

Terrorism:

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive

• Chemical

  • US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense

• Biological

  • CDC: Bioterrorism
  • US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
  • UCSF Medical Center Bioterrorism Fact Sheets

• Radiological

  • Radiological Terrorism Tutorial

• Nuclear

  • US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Explosive

  • Explosive-Related Information

Resources:

University of California Disaster Preparedness Checklist