Virginia Beach emergency management plans mobile EOC, EOC modernization and school preparedness in FY26 budget

Virginia Beach Director of Emergency Management Thomas Topazinski presented the department’s FY26 operating budget and outlined initiatives for community preparedness, training, and emergency‑operations improvements.

Topazinski said the department operates with nine FTEs across two divisions — emergency management and security — and a total operating budget of just over $2 million. The security division’s larger share pays for third‑party security contracts that cover municipal facilities and the newly reopened Building 3. Topazinski said staff reduced three vacant FTEs to cover the increased cost of a new security contract and reduced one grant‑funded position after the related flood mitigation grant closed.

Planned and ongoing initiatives include an Emergency Operations Center modernization and reopening after upgrades, a city‑first deployable mobile EOC to be tested at the Oceana Air Show, expanded community outreach and preparedness partnerships with schools and public safety, a classroom STEM preparedness program for fourth and fifth graders, short‑term rental preparedness outreach in Sandbridge (ReadyVV), a panic‑button rollout coordinated with schools, active‑threat and de‑escalation training for staff and poll workers, a two‑year disaster recovery plan draft due this fall, and increased internal training and exercise programs.

Topazinski told council the new deployable EOC removes reliance on external agencies for temporary command posts and that the department will fully test the mobile EOC next week and deploy it at a major event and a large exercise later in the year. He also said the department is implementing a comprehensive GIS software solution (Esri) to consolidate public-facing and internal situational awareness tools.

Council members asked about modeling for coastal flooding and partnerships with public works; Topazinski said public works leads hydrodynamic modeling and emergency management uses those results to target evacuations and vulnerable-population planning. Councilors thanked the director for the department’s work on recent tornado response, shelter exercises and community programs.

Speakers who presented or questioned included Director Thomas Topazinski and multiple council members. No formal council action resulted from the briefing; the presentation was received for information.