# W. Va. Code § 15-5-1: Policy and purpose

> West Virginia · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S1

## Section

- **Citation:** W. Va. Code § 15-5-1
- **Heading:** Policy and purpose
- **Jurisdiction:** West Virginia
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** WV Code / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 1

## Text

In view of the existing and increasing possibility of the occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness and large-scale threats, resulting from terrorism, enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, or from fire, flood, earthquakes or other natural or man-made causes and in order to insure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with the disasters and large-scale threats, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health and safety and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the state, it is found and declared to be necessary: (1) To create the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and to authorize the creation of local and regional organizations for emergency services in the political subdivisions of the state; (2) to confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads of governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the state the emergency powers provided herein; (3) to provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the state and with other states and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency services and homeland security functions; and (4) to establish and implement comprehensive homeland security and emergency management plans to deal with such disasters and large-scale threats. It is further declared to be the purpose of this article and the policy of the state that all homeland security and emergency management funds and functions of this state be coordinated to the maximum extent with the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and with the comparable functions of the federal government including its various departments and agencies, of other states and localities and of private agencies of every type, so that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation's and this state's manpower, resources and facilities for dealing with any disaster or large-scale threat that may occur.

## Nearby sections

- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-1 §15-5-1. Policy and purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S1.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-2 §15-5-2. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S2.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-3 §15-5-3. Division of Emergency Management created.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S3.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-5 §15-5-5. General powers of the Governor.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S5.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-6 §15-5-6. Proclamation of a state of emergency or state of preparedness by the Governor or the Legislature; additional powers of the Governor during a state of emergency or state of preparedness.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S6.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-6A §15-5-6a. Temporary suspension of nutrition standards in public schools.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S6A.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-7 §15-5-7. Mobile support units.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S7.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-8 §15-5-8. Local organization for emergency services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S8.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-9 §15-5-9. Mutual aid agreements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S9.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-10 §15-5-10. Regional organizations for emergency services.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S10.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-11 §15-5-11. Immunity and exemption; "duly qualified emergency service worker" defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S11.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-12 §15-5-12. Liability to sheltered persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S12.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-13 §15-5-13. Appropriations; acceptance of services, gifts, grants, and loans.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S13.md)
- [W. Va. Code § 15-5-14 §15-5-14. Political activity of emergency service organizations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S14.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WV_C15_A5_S1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.