Emergency Management

Training and Workshops

Each year, we train people how to prepare for emergencies, prevent injuries, and respond effectively when the unexpected happens

The Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia aims to support people in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to be ready when disaster strikes. Year round, we offer free training and informational sessions to individuals, businesses, community groups, schools, and other organizations throughout the region.

Current Training Opportunites

Please access the Regional Training & Exercise Calendar for current training opportunities in the region.

To request a training or exercise be added to the regional calendar, please complete this form.

Volunteer Training

With proper training and education, civilian volunteers can support emergency response agencies and expand the resources available to states and local communities. Volunteers help impacted communities heal from disasters, but recovery will not happen overnight. For many disasters, assistance will be needed for many months and years afterward.

Prepare to Help

Get training before the next disaster. Contacting and affiliating with an established organization involved in disaster response and recovery will ensure that you are appropriately trained and supported to respond in the most effective way.

Disaster Relief

Seeing images of disaster may compel you to head to the impacted area, but volunteers should not enter an impacted area until a need has been identified and the local community has requested support. Volunteering inside a disaster area can be dangerous, stressful work in extreme environments.

Community Emergency Response Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

To learn more about CERT, visit ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team/

Volunteer responsibly, make the most of your efforts and truly assist impacted communities.

Volunteer with an existing voluntary organization that has been asked to respond.
Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified.
Once assigned as a volunteer, make sure you are wearing proper safety gear for the task.
Consider volunteering for the long-term community recovery.
For more information on volunteering, visit vaemergency.gov/get-involved/

Past Trainings & Workshops

PlanSafe Disaster Preparedness Workshop

September 7, 2019
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.)

Make a Plan. Be Safe.

When seconds count, being prepared is critical. Your household may not be together in an emergency, so it is important to plan in advance. Attend this highly interactive, three-hour workshop to learn how to be better prepared as an individual or family. Discussions will include how to make a household plan, build an emergency kit, what items should be included, and the proper way to store the contents. The workshop will also teach basic prevention or mitigation strategies that you can do in your home to protect your household members and valuables.

Core topics will cover:
Planning and Documents
Household Safety
Active Threat
Elective topics (vary per locality) will cover:
Fraud and Identity Theft
Food and Water Safety
Weather
First Aid
Pet Preparedness

Intended Audience: This presentation is intended for a broad array of audiences, including individuals and families preparing their homes, businesses or non-profit organizations looking to increase preparedness for their employees, or community groups looking to improve the personal preparedness in neighborhoods or service area.

This program is not intended for children ages 12 and under.
Attendance is limited at each location. Register early to secure your preferred location. If a location is full you can select a different option or be added to the wait list. The wait list does not ensure you will be guaranteed a spot for that location.
You do not have to sign up in the locality where you reside.
Individuals with disabilities who wish to request accommodations should contact the Event Coordinator, Katie Moody, at least 10 business days prior to the event. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations.

Duration: Approximately 3 hours.

For more information, contact:
Katie Moody, Regional Emergency Management Coordinator
Plan RVA - The Regional Commission
Phone: (804) 323-2033
Email: kmoody@planrva.org