Building Emergency Response Coordinator (BERC) Program
Support Your Building’s Safety – Volunteer as a BERC
The Building Emergency Response Coordinator (BERC) Program at Cal Poly empowers faculty and staff to take an active role in supporting building safety during emergencies.
Participation is completely voluntary — BERCs are not appointed, mandated, or compensated. Instead, they are employees who step forward to serve as liaisons between their building occupants and DEM when emergencies occur.
While all public employees are designated Disaster Service Workers (DSWs) under California law, effective emergency response requires organization and preparation. The BERC Program promotes localized readiness by providing training, resources, and coordination support to volunteers who wish to serve.
What Does a BERC Do?
- Supporting emergency preparedness within their assigned building
- Facilitating communication between building occupants and DEM
- Assisting with emergency drills and training Deputy and Assistant BERCs
- Helping coordinate evacuations and gathering status information during incidents
- Reporting initial damage assessments using a standardized form
BERCs complete an online Canvas course that provides training materials, job aids, and guidance on how to assemble a BERC Binder for their building. The BERC Binder includes:
- Building-specific forms and procedural guides
- Periodically updated occupant rosters (updated each academic quarter)
- Emergency contact information and other essential documents
Important Note:
BERCs are not responsible for the physical safety of others during emergencies and should never put themselves in danger. They serve in a communication and coordination role, not as emergency responders.
How Is the Program Structured?
- Voluntary Service: BERCs are elected by consensus within their building communities and must be willing to serve without additional compensation or formal HR recognition.
- Support Framework: BERCs are trained and supported by DEM, in partnership with Environmental Health & Safety (EHS).
- Activation and Communication: In large-scale events, BERCs may be activated via Poly Alert and will coordinate through DEM’s Duty Officer or EOC.
The BERC Program builds on Cal Poly’s longstanding commitment to localized emergency preparedness. Originally established in response to CSU Executive Order 1056, which called for building-level coordinators across the CSU system, Cal Poly has chosen to maintain and evolve this program even after systemwide requirements were rescinded. Today, participation in the BERC Program is fully elective, reflecting the University’s ongoing dedication to fostering a safe and resilient campus community.
How BERCs Fit into Cal Poly’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
The BERC Program is directly tied to Cal Poly’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
During major emergencies, BERCs serve as a recognized component of Cal Poly’s Disaster Assistance Teams (DATs) — an umbrella structure of trained volunteers that can be tasked by the EOC to assist with field operations.
When activated, BERCs may be called upon to:
- Facilitate evacuations of building occupants
- Perform initial damage assessments for their buildings
- Relay critical information to DEM or the EOC
As part of the broader DAT framework, BERCs help provide the EOC with timely, building-level intelligence and assist with tactical assignments when needed, strengthening Cal Poly’s coordinated campus-wide response.
Interested in Becoming a BERC?
If you are a faculty or staff member interested in helping your building prepare for emergencies — and your building’s occupants support participation in the program — please contact DEM at dem@calpoly.edu.
We will review your request and, if appropriate, provide you access to the BERC Canvas learning module for training.