​​​The Virginia Beach Community Emergency Response Team (VBCERT) program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety and suppression, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster medical operations and disaster psychology.  Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. People who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, CERT members can apply the training learned in the classroom and during exercises to give critical support to their family, loved ones, neighbors or associates in their immediate area until help arrives.  When help does arrive, VBCERT members provide useful information to responders and support their efforts, as directed, at the disaster site.