Berkeley Disaster Team (BDT)

The Berkeley Disaster Team (BDT) is a volunteer, student-led organization that helps prepare UC Berkeley for disasters and aids in non-medical campus disaster response. We are sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and UCPD.

Recruitment

Interested in joining Berkeley Disaster Team this Fall 2022?

Fill out the interest form here to receive information regarding meetings for the upcoming semester: https://forms.gle/b9YG1NohwfcF2aM8A

Open Meeting for All Students Interested in Getting Involved:

We will be having open meetings, check out and contact our Facebook for more information! Thanks for the interest.

Come join our family and learn more about disasters and take part in campus’ disaster preparedness team.

The BDT’s Mission:

  1. PREPARE the campus for disasters through presentations and outreach
  2. TRAIN students to perform non-medical disaster response
  3. RESPOND to disasters at UC Berkeley when mobilized by the OEM/UCPD
  4. FOSTER interest in disaster management/ preparedness/ resilience

The BDT augments campus response by:

  • Staffing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and supporting ESF Operational Centers
  • Managing resources and disaster logistics
  • Supporting victims through psychological first-aid
  • Organizing mass care (shelter setup and operations)
  • Registering and supervising spontaneous (untrained) volunteers
  • Distributing food, supplies, and information

What Have We Done?

  • Staffed on-campus vaccine clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided emergency volunteers for UHS contact tracing efforts
  • Produced daily newsletters for the UC Office of the President detailing developments and news during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Help run the OEM (Office of Emergency Management) during PG&E Restoration of Power
  • Distributed 1,000+ N-95 respirator masks to UC Berkeley students for hazardous Camp Fire wildfire smoke in Fall 2018
  • Staffed the campus emergency operations center for the 2017 “Free Speech” protests
  • Trained 1500+ UC Berkeley students in personal preparedness
  • Provided Psychological First Aid (PFA) at the Spring 2018 mass casualty incident drill held by Berkeley Medical Reserve Corps (BMRC)
  • Ran and coordinated logistics department for Rock Medicine at SF Pride Parade 2018 & Outside Lands Music Festival 2018

Some of Our Partners: