{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/44-146.14.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/44-146.14.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/44-146.14.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/44-146.14.html"}],"law_id":65115,"edition_id":1,"section_id":65115,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.14","catch_line":"Findings of General Assembly","history":"1973, c. 260; 1974, c. 4; 1975, c. 11; 2000, c. 309.","full_text":"a\n\nBecause 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 deal with such emergencies, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property and economic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary and to be the purpose of this chapter:1\n\nTo create a State Department of Emergency Management, and to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;2\n\nTo confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth emergency powers provided herein; and3\n\nTo provide for rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth and with other states and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency service functions.b\n\nIt is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the Commonwealth that all emergency service functions of the Commonwealth be coordinated to the maximum extent possible with the comparable functions of the federal government, other states, and private agencies of every type, and that the Governor shall be empowered to provide for enforcement by the Commonwealth of national emergency services programs, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation’s resources and facilities for dealing with any disaster that may occur.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":236934,"text":"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 deal with such emergencies, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property and economic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary and to be the purpose of this chapter:","type":"section","prefixes":["a"],"prefix":"a","entire_prefix":"a","prefix_anchor":"a","level":1,"next_prefix":"a1"},"1":{"id":236935,"text":"To create a State Department of Emergency Management, and to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["a","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"a1","prefix_anchor":"a1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a","next_prefix":"a2"},"2":{"id":236936,"text":"To confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth emergency powers provided herein; and","type":"section","prefixes":["a","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"a2","prefix_anchor":"a2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a1","next_prefix":"a3"},"3":{"id":236937,"text":"To provide for rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth and with other states and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency service functions.","type":"section","prefixes":["a","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"a3","prefix_anchor":"a3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"a2","next_prefix":"b"},"4":{"id":236938,"text":"It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the Commonwealth that all emergency service functions of the Commonwealth be coordinated to the maximum extent possible with the comparable functions of the federal government, other states, and private agencies of every type, and that the Governor shall be empowered to provide for enforcement by the Commonwealth of national emergency services programs, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation’s resources and facilities for dealing with any disaster that may occur.","type":"section","prefixes":["b"],"prefix":"b","entire_prefix":"b","prefix_anchor":"b","level":1,"prior_prefix":"a3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14302,"edition_id":1,"name":"Emergency Services and Disaster Law","identifier":"3.2","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13446,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:39","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:39","permalink":{"id":222283,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14302,"identifier":"3.2","token":"44\/3.2","url":"\/44\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13446,"edition_id":1,"name":"Military and Emergency Laws","identifier":"44","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:54","permalink":{"id":221549,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13446,"identifier":"44","token":"44","url":"\/44\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83808,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.13","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/44-146.13\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.13","metadata":false},{"id":65115,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.14","catch_line":"Findings of General Assembly","url":"\/44-146.14\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.14","metadata":false},{"id":56507,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.15","catch_line":"Construction of chapter","url":"\/44-146.15\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.15","metadata":false},{"id":65984,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.16","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/44-146.16\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.16","metadata":false},{"id":78828,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.17","catch_line":"Powers and duties of Governor","url":"\/44-146.17\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.17","metadata":false},{"id":73003,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.17:1","catch_line":"Transmittal to General Assembly of rules, regulations, and orders","url":"\/44-146.17_1\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.17_1","metadata":false},{"id":62120,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.17:1.1","catch_line":"Certain emergency orders; additional requirements","url":"\/44-146.17_1.1\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.17_1.1","metadata":false},{"id":74379,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.17:2","catch_line":"Annual statewide drill","url":"\/44-146.17_2\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.17_2","metadata":false},{"id":55576,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.18","catch_line":"Department of Emergency Management; administration and operational control; coordinator and other personnel; powers and duties","url":"\/44-146.18\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.18","metadata":false},{"id":70134,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.18:1","catch_line":"Virginia Disaster Response Funds disbursements; reimbursements","url":"\/44-146.18_1\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.18_1","metadata":false},{"id":71648,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.18:2","catch_line":"Authority of Coordinator of Emergency Management in undeclared emergency","url":"\/44-146.18_2\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.18_2","metadata":false},{"id":69158,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.18:3","catch_line":"First informer broadcasters; 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terms","url":"\/44-146.28_1\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.28_1","metadata":false},{"id":86962,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.28:2","catch_line":"Disaster relief assistance by out-of-state businesses and employees","url":"\/44-146.28_2\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.28_2","metadata":false},{"id":66386,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.29","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/44-146.29\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.29","metadata":false},{"id":72455,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.29:1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/44-146.29_1\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.29_1","metadata":false},{"id":70917,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.29:3","catch_line":"Emergency Shelters Upgrade Assistance Grant Fund","url":"\/44-146.29_3\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.29_3","metadata":false},{"id":84353,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.29:4","catch_line":"Disconnection suspension for certain utilities","url":"\/44-146.29_4\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.29_4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":83808,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.13","catch_line":"Short title","url":"\/44-146.13\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.13","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":56507,"structure_id":14302,"section_number":"44-146.15","catch_line":"Construction of chapter","url":"\/44-146.15\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.15","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/44-146.14\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 260 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1974, chapter 4; in 1975, chapter 11; in 2000, chapter 309<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":222289,"object_type":"law","relational_id":65115,"identifier":"44-146.14","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.14","url":"\/44-146.14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/44-146.14\/","token":"44\/3.2\/44-146.14","dublin_core":{"Title":"Findings of General Assembly","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 44-146.14","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

a.<\/span> Because of the ever present possibility of the occurrence of disasters<\/span> of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, resource shortage<\/span>, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural causes, and in order<\/span> to insure that preparations of the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions<\/span> will be adequate to deal with such emergencies, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property and economic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary and to be the purpose of this chapter: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To create a State Department of Emergency<\/span> Management, and to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency<\/span> management in the political subdivisions<\/span> of the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or governing bodies of the political subdivisions<\/span> of the Commonwealth emergency<\/span> powers provided herein; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To provide for rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions<\/span> of the Commonwealth and with other states and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency<\/span> service functions. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

b.<\/span> It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of the Commonwealth that all emergency service functions of the Commonwealth be coordinated to the maximum extent possible with the comparable functions of the federal government, other states, and private agencies of every type, and that the Governor shall be empowered to provide for enforcement by the Commonwealth of national emergency services<\/span> programs, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation’s resources and facilities for dealing with any disaster<\/span> that may occur. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nFINDINGS OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY (\u00a7 44-146.14)\n\na. Because of the ever present possibility of the occurrence of disasters of\nunprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage or\nother hostile action, resource shortage, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or\nother natural causes, and in order to insure that preparations of the\nCommonwealth and its political subdivisions will be adequate to deal with such\nemergencies, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the\npublic peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property and\neconomic well-being of the people of the Commonwealth, it is hereby found and\ndeclared to be necessary and to be the purpose of this chapter:\n\n 1. To create a State Department of Emergency Management, and to authorize the\n creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political\n subdivisions of the Commonwealth;\n\n 2. To confer upon the Governor and upon the executive heads or governing\n bodies of the political subdivisions of the Commonwealth emergency powers\n provided herein; and\n\n 3. To provide for rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of\n the Commonwealth and with other states and to cooperate with the federal\n government with respect to the carrying out of emergency service functions.\n\nb. It is further declared to be the purpose of this chapter and the policy of\nthe Commonwealth that all emergency service functions of the Commonwealth be\ncoordinated to the maximum extent possible with the comparable functions of the\nfederal government, other states, and private agencies of every type, and that\nthe Governor shall be empowered to provide for enforcement by the Commonwealth\nof national emergency services programs, to the end that the most effective\npreparation and use may be made of the nation’s resources and facilities\nfor dealing with any disaster that may occur.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 260; 1974, c. 4; 1975, c. 11; 2000, c. 309.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}