The Virginia Beach Community Emergency Response Team (VBCERT) program educates residents on community hazards and teaches them various disaster preparedness strategies. Training includes 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 neighborhoods or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. Those who go through CERT training will 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 the workplace.