City Will Practice Emergency Response on June 10

Being prepared to respond and reduce the impacts of human-made, natural or technological disasters on Virginia Beach is a primary goal of City leadership. 

One of the best ways to ensure that personnel and plans are ready is through practicing with emergency exercises, which are structured events that simulate real-life incidents. 

Virginia Beach Emergency Management, in conjunction with the Department of Parks & Recreation, is planning a tabletop exercise of an active threat that will be noon to 3 p.m., June 10, at Williams Farm Recreation Center. 

This exercise will include first responders, public safety departments and Parks & Recreation staff. While community members might notice additional staff, activity and vehicles in and around the recreation center, the exercise is not expected to affect any programs or services available.  

Emergency Exercises 

This exercise is part of the preparation for a full-scale exercise being planned for October in Virginia Beach. Full-scale exercises are highly realistic scenarios that may involve multiple agencies, equipment and actors playing various roles, such as perpetrators, victims, families and other community members.  

Emergency Management conducts and evaluates exercises on a regular schedule to test the City’s Emergency Operations Plan as well as the knowledge, skills and teamwork of staff and departments throughout the City. Exercises are a great opportunity for the City to practice working together during incidents and disasters. 

Collaboration 

Departments and offices that contribute to the emergency management process include public safety, Budget, Finance, Public Utilities, Parks & Recreation, Human Services, Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS), Communications and Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS). 

Emergency Management also partners with communities, military installations and private agencies within Hampton Roads, as well as state and federal agencies, to coordinate planning and evaluation of exercises. 

Taking Action 

After these exercises are complete, Emergency Management staff develops action reports that document and identify gaps and deficiencies. This allows staff to take corrective action in emergency operations processes. Lessons learned from exercises, as well as real-life events and incidents, are built into the future training and exercises.  

By dedicating time and resources to simulate emergencies before they happen, the City of Virginia Beach is better able to respond with confidence and competence to real-life incidents. 

The City of Virginia Beach Emergency Management team promotes a comprehensive emergency management program to mitigate Virginia Beach's impacts from human-made, natural or technological disasters. Learn more at VirginiaBeach.gov/ReadyVB. 

• Emergency Management
• ReadyVB