§ 44-146.13. Short title
This chapter may be cited as the “Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Services and Disaster Law of 2000.” 1973, c. 260; 2000, c. 309.
§ 44-146.14. Findings of General Assembly
(a) Because of the ever present possibility of the occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, resource shortage, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural causes, and in order to insure that preparations of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions will be adequate to […]
§ 44-146.15. Construction of chapter
Nothing in this chapter is to be construed to: (1) Limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the Governor to exercise any powers vested in him under other laws of this Commonwealth independent of, or in conjunction with, any provisions of this chapter; (2) Interfere with dissemination of news or comment on public affairs; but […]
§ 44-146.16. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning: “Communicable disease of public health threat” means an illness of public health significance, as determined by the State Health Commissioner in accordance with regulations of the Board of Health, caused by a specific or suspected infectious agent that may be reasonably expected or […]
§ 44-146.17:1. Transmittal to General Assembly of rules, regulations, and orders
The Governor shall cause copies of any order, rule, or regulation proclaimed and published by him pursuant to § 44-146.17 to be transmitted forthwith to each member of the General Assembly. 1981, c. 160.
§ 44-146.17:1.1. Certain emergency orders; additional requirements
In any case in which an order declaring a state of emergency relating to a communicable disease of public health threat, or successive related orders, issued by the Governor pursuant to subdivision (1) of § 44-146.17 includes any measure that closes schools or businesses or restricts the movement of healthy persons within the area to […]
§ 44-146.17:2. Annual statewide drill
The Governor shall conduct an annual statewide drill on response to a large-scale disaster, including electrical power outages. Such drill shall include the participation of local governments, affected state agencies, public utilities, law-enforcement agencies, and other entities as determined by the Governor. 2004, c. 430; 2019, c. 615.
§ 44-146.17. (Effective July 1, 2023) Powers and duties of Governor
The Governor shall be Director of Emergency Management. He shall take such action from time to time as is necessary for the adequate promotion and coordination of state and local emergency services activities relating to the safety and welfare of the Commonwealth in time of disasters. The Governor shall have, in addition to his powers […]
§ 44-146.17. (Effective until July 1, 2023) Powers and duties of Governor
The Governor shall be Director of Emergency Management. He shall take such action from time to time as is necessary for the adequate promotion and coordination of state and local emergency services activities relating to the safety and welfare of the Commonwealth in time of disasters. The Governor shall have, in addition to his powers […]
§ 44-146.18:1. Virginia Disaster Response Funds disbursements; reimbursements
There is hereby created a nonlapsing revolving fund which shall be maintained as a separate special fund account within the state treasury, and administered by the Coordinator of Emergency Management, consistent with the purposes of this chapter. All expenses, costs, and judgments recovered pursuant to this section, and all moneys received as reimbursement in accordance […]
§ 44-146.18:2. Authority of Coordinator of Emergency Management in undeclared emergency
In an emergency which does not warrant a gubernatorial declaration of a state of emergency, the Coordinator of Emergency Management, after consultation with and approval of the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, may enter into contracts and incur obligations necessary to prevent or alleviate damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused by such emergency […]
§ 44-146.18:3. First informer broadcasters; coordination with Department of Emergency Management
A. For purposes of this section, unless the context requires otherwise, “first informer” means the critical radio or television personnel of a radio or television broadcast station engaged in (i) the process of broadcasting; (ii) the maintenance or repair of broadcast station equipment, transmitters, and generators; or (iii) the transportation of fuel for generators of […]
§ 44-146.18:4. State Coordinator of Emergency Management responsible for annual Virginia Comprehensive Emergency Management Report
A. The Department of Emergency Management (the Department) shall create a comprehensive tabulated annual report, known as the Virginia Comprehensive Emergency Management Report (the Report), that shall include the annual Threat Hazard Identification Risk and Assessment (THIRA) report that the Department submits to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as information on the […]
§ 44-146.18:5. Division of Public Safety Communications established; appointment of Virginia Public Safety Communications Coordinator; duties of Division
A. There is established within the Department of Emergency Management a Division of Public Safety Communications (the Division), which shall be headed by a Virginia Public Safety Communications Coordinator, appointed by the State Coordinator with the advice and consent of the 9-1-1 Services Board. The Division shall consist of such personnel as the State Coordinator […]
§ 44-146.18:6. Geographic Information Network Division established; powers and duties; Division Coordinator
A. As used in this section, unless the context requires a different meaning: “Base map data” means the digitized common geographic data that is used by most geographic information systems applications to reference or link attribute or other geographic data. “Division” means the Geographic Information Network Division. “Geographic data” means data that contains either coordinates […]
§ 44-146.18:7. GIS Fund created
There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the GIS Fund, hereafter referred to as the Fund. The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All moneys collected pursuant to subsection C of § 44-146.18:6 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited […]
§ 44-146.18:8. Additional powers and duties of the State Coordinator of Emergency Management
The State Coordinator of Emergency Management shall, on the recommendation of the Division Coordinator, (i) receive and disburse funds; (ii) enter into contracts for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this article; and (iii) rent office space and procure equipment, goods, and services that are necessary to carry out the provisions of § […]
§ 44-146.18:9. Nonstock corporation to assist in the development of GIS data
The Department of Emergency Management is hereby authorized to establish a nonstock corporation under Chapter 10 (§ 13.1-801 et seq.) of Title 13.1 as an instrumentality to assist the Department of Emergency Management and the Division in the development and acquisition of geographic data and statewide base map data. On or before December 1 of […]
§ 44-146.18. Department of Emergency Management; administration and operational control; coordinator and other personnel; powers and duties
A. The State Office of Emergency Services is continued and shall hereafter be known as the Department of Emergency Management (the Department). Wherever the words “State Department of Emergency Services” are used in any law of the Commonwealth, they shall mean the Department of Emergency Management. During a declared emergency this Department shall revert to […]
§ 44-146.19. Powers and duties of political subdivisions
A. Each political subdivision within the Commonwealth shall be within the jurisdiction of and served by the Department of Emergency Management and be responsible for local disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Each political subdivision shall maintain in accordance with state disaster preparedness plans and programs an agency of emergency management which, except as otherwise […]