Public Safety

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is being prepared ahead of time for a range of disasters that could occur.  With adequate emergency preparedness, communities have the knowledge and tools they need to be ready should a disaster strike.

Why is This Important?

When emergencies happen -- events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, winter storms, disease epidemics, terrorism, chemical spills and radiation leaks -- everyone turns to the government, hoping it is ready to respond. This response is the most important component of any society's emergency preparedness program. Planning, training exercises, public awareness campaigns and quality assurance are also important aspects of emergency preparedness programs.

How is Virginia Doing?

Based on the number of disaster declarations reported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Virginia is at higher risk than most states for a disaster declaration. The Commonwealth’s 39 disaster declarations between 1953 and 2008 exceeded the national average (32).  Among Virginia’s neighbors, Tennessee had the same number (39) of disaster declarations while North Carolina (36) and Maryland (18) were lower. Rhode Island, Wyoming and Utah all had the lowest number of disaster declarations at 7.

In 2005, Virginia became one of five states receiving full accreditation by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP accreditation demonstrates that an emergency management program meets rigorous national standards for documented compliance in 15 functional areas that include planning and procedures; resource management; training; exercises, evaluations and corrective actions; and communications and warning. Although EMAP is voluntary, it fosters benchmarking and continuous improvement in local and state government emergency management.

Trust for America, a national non-profit organization, gave Virginia a perfect score (10 out of 10) in its 2007 annual report on state and national bioterrorism and public health threat preparedness. Virginia is among the top seven states in preparedness level, alongside Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Nebraska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. North Carolina scored 9 and Maryland scored 8 out of 10.

Virginia's Homeland Security grants help support statewide and regional projects that will improve Virginia's capabilities to plan for and respond to man-made and natural emergencies.

What Influences Emergency Preparedness?

Virginia's geographical diversity, from mountains to shoreline, means that the Commonwealth is open to a variety of natural disasters ranging from severe thunderstorms to winter storms, from hurricanes to geological hazards like landslides. In addition, Virginia prepares for manmade threats -- such as radiological and HazMat problems and terrorist incidents -- by assessing vulnerabilities, planning and coordinating assets and resources, and practicing what to do in an emergency.

What is the State's Role?

Despite best efforts, disasters will happen, but knowing how to deal with them helps to reduce loss of life and property. Under the overall coordination of the Governor's Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, and led by core preparedness agencies such as the Department of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, and the Department of Transportation, all state agencies share a common goal to strengthen the culture of preparedness. They work with local government, state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations to provide resources and expertise.