West Virginia Emergency Management Division

MISSION The mission of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) is to ensure the protection of life and property by providing coordination, guidance, support and assistance to local emergency managers and first responders. Pursuant to West Virginia State Code and the West Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, the agency manages disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response and recovery efforts throughout the state by coordinating with all responsible government agencies. In the event of a federally declared disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) works closely with the division to administer assistance programs. The division contains multiple branches that work seamlessly together to achieve WVEMD's overall mission. In addition to these branches and the Watch Center, which is staffed 24/7, the division operates the State’s Emergency Operations Center when the Governor orders an activation. During activation, WVEMD coordinates resources and support as requested by local emergency management agencies who administer direct assistance to citizens.