The Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Preparedness (OEP) launched its 2026 Community-Based Emergency Response Series (CBERS) program. CBERS is a statewide tabletop exercise series designed to strengthen Virginia’s readiness for large-scale emergencies. The first session kicked off last week, bringing together partners from emergency management, public health, public safety, healthcare, social services, behavioral health, and public information.
In today’s complex emergency landscape, major incidents often require multiple disciplines to work together under intense pressure. This year’s CBERS program focuses on the intersection of mass casualty, mass care, and mass fatalitŸ operations. Three areas that must align seamlessly during catastrophic events.
During this one-day session, participants:
- Heard directly from field partners about real-world capabilities and challenges,
- Took part in scenario-based discussions, and
- Examined the operational, logistical, and ethical issues that arise when these response domains converge.
The program emphasizes interagency coordination, resource management, crisis communication, and integrated operations.
Upcoming CBERS Sessions
時間: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, May 7 – Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave
- Friday, May 8 – Germanna Community College, Culpeper
- Tuesday, May 12 – Holiday Inn Roanoke Conference Center, Roanoke
- Thursday, May 14 – Southwest VA Higher Education Center, Abingdon
- Tuesday, May 19 – Chesapeake Regional Healthy Lifestyle Center
- Thursday, May 21 – Peninsula Health Department, Newport News
- Thursday, May 28– Virginia Department of Social Services, Fairfax
- Wednesday, June 3 – Dinwiddie Community Enhancement Center
VDH’s OEP welcomes all partners across the response community to join us at an upcoming session and help strengthen Virginia’s preparedness for complex emergencies. To register, sign up on TRAIN, Course ID# 1133604。
For more information, please visit the CBERS website。