UBC Disaster Response Plan identifies lines of authority, critical responsibilities, key responders and essential resources. The plan is based on the provincial model referred to as the British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS) and is tested annually through campus-wide emergency scenarios.

It is supplemented with departmental fire and safety plans, business continuity plans and other operational resiliency measures.

In the event of a large-scale emergency occurring on campus, the University will activate the UBC Disaster Response Plan and its Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate campus and community response as well as recovery activities.