The Virginia Department of Emergency Management mission is saving lives through effective emergency management and homeland security. "A Ready Virginia is a Resilient Virginia"

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is recognized as the “best-in-class” emergency management agency on the eastern seaboard by:

• Quick, integrated response


• Strategic and sustainable programs


• Regional capacity for disaster response


• Professional development for emergency management

• Timely response to the Commonwealth's emergency needs and requirements


• Expertise in emergency/disaster management 


• Effective communications on how we conduct our business


• Quality service to our internal and external customers


• Ethical behaivor

In July 1973, Virginia took measures to ensure that the Commonwealth and its residents would be protected from the effects of disasters, both natural and human-caused. Just 13 months after Hurricane Agnes caused record-breaking flooding, the Virginia Office of Emergency Services was created. The office was renamed the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) in 2000 (Va. Code Ann. § 44-146.18). Today, VDEM works with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies and voluntary organizations to provide crucial resources during all hazard disasters. 

VDEM’s mission is to lead Virginia’s prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts to save lives and protect all Virginians, prioritizing under-resourced communities and embracing equity. It is a call we fulfill to ensure the security and resilience of every community in the state and to drive equitable mitigation and recovery outcomes.

The agency’s newest partners, the 9-1-1 Services and Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) Advisory Boards, offer additional support to VDEM's mission through a variety of 9-1-1 and geospatial services. We continue our partnership with government and private sector parties to coordinate the state’s emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.   

New threats and vulnerabilities arise constantly in our dynamic risk environment. From threats of terror to hurricanes, from cybersecurity breaches to flooding, today’s challenges are the focus at VDEM, in an agency that evolves to address them. While some threats strike with little to no warning, others provide time for VDEM to work jointly with federal and local partners to prepare, mitigate, and respond to the event.

Ensure the COVEOP continues to align with the most recent federal doctrine and guidance, most notably the Comprehensive Plan Guidance 101 (CPG 101) to include all support and incident annexes, continuing the four-year revision cycle compatible with the cycle required of localities as well as colleges and universities.

Improve the capabilities of the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) to coordinate the commonwealth's response during disasters and emergencies.

Provide direct assistance to local governments and state agencies during emergencies and disasters, and functions internal to the agency to ensure the effectiveness of the commonwealth’s organization and response to emergencies and disasters.

Provide 24-hour crisis coordination, information dissemination, and state warning point services through the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC).

Provide effective disaster financial management to increase the efficiency of recovery efforts and reduces the likelihood of audits and financial penalties for state agencies and jurisdictions.

Professional development is a priority effort at VDEM.  Not only are opportunities to attend the Foundations or Advanced Emergency Management Academy made available to all employees and partners, but tuition reimbursement and continuing education have encouraged many employees to seek advanced degrees and skills.

Current Operational IT Investments

The Information  Technology  (IT) Division at the Virginia Department of Emergency  Management consists of twelve (12) staff positions,  responsible for planning, administration, and first-tier support of the systems and applications supporting the agency’s operations at VDEM Headquarters, the Emergency  Operations  Center (EOC), and Regional Offices.  IT Division staff are all members of the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) and augment the EOC when the Governor declares a State of Emergency.  The division also coordinates the provision of IT support for state personnel  (including temporary employees and contractors)  operating in any Joint Field Office (JFO) established by the Commonwealth and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a result of a natural or man-made disaster.  In addition to the sites mentioned above, the division is also responsible for planning Continuity of IT Operations between those sites and Disaster Recovery (DR) at the agency’s designated DR site.

VDEM is not responsible for the IT infrastructure (including servers, networks computers and networked printers) that supports its operations.     That responsibility rests with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA).  VDEM has taken steps towards “Transforming” into the Commonwealth’s IT Infrastructure Service Model. As of June 2022, VDEM completed Phase I, PC transformation and has now created a steering committee for complete Phase II, Digital Transformation.

The IT Digital Transformation Steering Committee will be addressing the following projects over the next twelve to twenty-four months including budget solutions.

Program Areas for Reference

• Financial Management Systems

• AEW/IMAT/VEST Systems

• ITIL Systems (ITSM & ITAM)

• Fleet/Asset/Warehouse Management Systems

• Customer Relationship Management & Locality Profiles

• WebEOC Improvements

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) has a maximum employment level of 229 full-time positions with approximately 170 positions filled. The workforce also includes 20 part-time positions and 60 adjunct instructors that work on an as needed basis.

Through the 2017 reorganization the composite of the VDEM workforce has changed.  While experience in emergency management has not decreased, the current workforce is younger and with more advanced degrees. The agency accomplished this by using recruiting techniques such as LinkedIn, advertising through association websites, and using the surrounding states as well as FEMA region III to recruit on our behalf.  In 2017, and again in 2022 VDEM began an intern program in coordination with state colleges offering degrees in homeland security.  The goal is to have 5-10 students each year spend a semester learning about the "boots on the ground" while bringing new ideas, technologies, and approaches to VDEM.

The emergency management field is increasingly competitive as federal, state, and local governments, as well as private companies and contractors, compete for competent employees.  In response, VDEM is continuing to make progress on strategic objectives to improve recruitment and retention:

• VDEM has increased the maximum advertised salaries for vacancies in order to access a larger segment of the labor market.


• VDEM has implemented more targeted recruitment strategies to attract a diverse and highly qualified applicant pool.


• The agency continues to evaluate internal career development strategies in order to retain highly qualified staff and prepare future leaders.


• VDEM has revised its Tuition Reimbursement Policy to enhance job performance and improve opportunities for internal career growth and development.


• The agency has renewed its focus on professional development to ensure staff is knowledgeable of current trends and practices in their respective fields.


• The agency has revamped its internship program to train and develop future leaders.

VDEM will continue these efforts and identify new ways of attracting and retaining a highly motivated and skilled workforce.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) does not own the physical plants it currently utilizes.  The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is co-located within the Virginia State Police headquarters in Chesterfield County. The agency's headquarters building, located in Chesterfield County, houses the majority of VDEM staff and is leased from a private company.

However both facilities no longer meet the agency's needs.  The EOC technology has been upgraded but during an activation it no longer holds the staff necessary to manage a disaster or provides us the capabilities to apply the technologies of 2022.  Even through VDEM relocated the central office in 2019, the same is true with the increase in staff, including the acquisition of the E-911 Wireless program in 2020.  The space is no longer able to house the staff and resources needed to support the true reflection of the depth of the new partnership with speciality teams, enhanced training programs and overall expanded coordination with stakeholders. 

As a result of VDEM’s mission, the agency maintains a fleet of four-wheel drive vehicles and other emergency response units for staff use for incident response. This fleet also serves as mobile offices for field based employees. These units serve as the agency service delivery outlets with customers and first line of defense during an incident.  Agency owned vehicles range in age from new to eleven years old. While a significant number of the vehicles have been replaced, the agency now has a strategic plan for vehicle replacement projecting out several years the needs and goals.  Unfortunately there is a limited funding stream to replace these vehicles which makes it difficult for the agency to maintain its readiness at the preferred level.

VDEM has identified several factors/forces that would significantly impact the agency’s ability to implement its missions and move toward the realization of its vision.  First, emergency events put day to day activities on hold.  VDEM employees need to be prepared to react to the potential threat or impact of disasters regardless of cause, severity or scope.  Lacking proper planning, outreach, partnering and personnel and up-to-date technology could increase the risks associated with transitioning into an active emergency event.   Second, quality of personnel is also a risk.  VDEM needs to be able to provide the proper training and compensation to attract and maintain quality employees.  Third, the inability to secure stable, constant and adequate funding to support emergency management could largely impact VDEM’s ability to provide training and support to prepare localities for emergency events, respond, recover and mitigate the impacts of future events.  Lastly, VDEM has the risk of not meeting the expectations of the public.  VDEM is the means of information for the public, media, localities and elected officials.  VDEM must maintain multiple means of communication and provide the most up-to-date and accurate information.

As Virginia’s Emergency Management Agency, VDEM aspires to promote best practices and policy as it pertains to safeguarding public funds. VDEM’s funding derives from several different types of funding, general funding (12%), special funds (7%) and federal funding (81%). VDEM manages over $63 million dollars in a fiscal year, which approximately $40 million passed through to prepare, respond, and recover from natural and manmade disasters. These pass through funds are from various funding streams (23) which are different and distinct programs.

One of VDEM’s important responsibilities is reimbursing other agencies and local jurisdictions timely for costs incurred from disasters. These funds flow directly from federal appropriations across fiscal years, therefore they are not always reflected in VDEM’s budget. Federal funding makes up approximately 75% of VDEM’s budget.

VDEM manages seven (7) different special revenue funds, including the dedicated service for the Wireless E-911 which is a tax collection from wireless accountholders. Overall special revenues make up 15% of VDEM’s budget.

The general fund revenue makes up the remaining 12% of the budget and is appropriated to the agency for agency operations and in some cases one-time projects.

The following statistics reflect a broad glance of VDEM operations for 2021 as it relates to services provided in the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.  The attached VDEM 2021 Annual Report provides more detail information.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) serves the localities, all state partners, regional state and federal partners, elected officials at all levels and residents with damages after a disasters. Efforts to maintain or iincrease these partnerships impacts the Virginia Emergency Support Teams ability to respond and assist in recovery.

VDEM' customer base has continued to increase as the population increases and due to the continuing goal of full integration of services and programs. 

Examples of areas of increase include:

• Disability Community – The Access & Functional Needs Advisory Committee (AFNAC) is compromised of subject-matter experts from state disability service and two local emergency management representatives for the purpose of guiding and furthering the Commonwealth's efforts to ensure universally accessible emergency plans and services.  This committee advises VDEM on inclusive emergency planning and disability integration during response operations.  Many members participate as partners with the disability community during response to identify and resolve citizen's access and functional needs issues and unmet needs.  There are approximately 30 agencies, including FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination, represented on AFNAC.

• Local elected officials – While ongoing communication has been a part of VDEMs profile, communications have been increased with local elected officials during a response, as recovery actions are needed, and as funding is assessed and hopefully recovered on behalf of the locality. 

• Non-profit organizations and Private sector partners – Through the outreach of the Response and Recovery Division, partnership with private sector entities engaged in addressing resilience to flooding and sea level rise are on the increase.  In addition, the Virginia Emergency Support Team is working to increase the private sector partners with an emphasis on supply chain as well as continually expand the non-profit opportunities through connection to the Virginia Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD).

Commonwealth Coordination Bureau works collaboratively with all VDEM bureaus, Executive Branch state agencies, volunteer organizations and private sector organizations to prepare and coordinate the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) response to and recovery from disasters and emergencies faced in the Commonwealth in an effort to best support all local, state, tribal, and territorial governments protect the lives and property of the citizens of Virginia. The VEST coordinates statewide response and recovery efforts for incidents, events, crises, emergencies, and disasters of all types when an event the capacity of local governments or state agency. The VEST has more than 300 trained members from Executive Branch state agencies, private sector, and volunteer organizations. The VEST works out of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center, a secure facility co-located with the Virginia State Police Administrative Headquarters at 7700 Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield, Virginia.

Regional Support has seven regional offices, which are split into East and West Divisions. Each regional office is led by a Chief Regional Coordinator and a team of professional emergency managers who work with local partners to help ensure a fast, agile, and integrated approach to disaster response and recovery. Members of VDEM’s Training, Education, and Exercise Division (TEED) and Search and Rescue (SAR) programs are also embedded in each region. Over 25 percent of our staff stands ready to serve across the state. Increasing the department’s regional capacity has put VDEM in a better position to support local and regional planning, response, and recovery operations.

The Search and Rescue (SAR) program began in 1985 with agency support of a statewide training event organized by a small handful of volunteers. Currently, there are 20 volunteer SAR teams in Virginia, with nearly 500 volunteers who are supervised and trained VDEM personnel. These teams are on call 24/7, and their capabilities include ground search and rescue, wilderness technical rescue, cave rescue, K9 live-find and human remains detection, human tracking, and equine search. In FY21, VDEM-led SAR teams conducted 118 separate missions in both urban and rural settings. VDEM’s SAR program is routinely called upon nationwide for their expertise, and is considered one of the premier SAR organizations in the country.

VDEM’s hazardous materials program provides assistance and support to local jurisdictions and other state agencies and act as the State On-Scene Coordinator during emergency and non-emergency situations involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. The VDEM Hazardous Materials staff, comprised of a Program Manager, eight Hazardous Materials Officers (HMOs), and a Radiological Officer, are trained and equipped to assist with the identification of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and provide subject matter expertise, guidance, and access to other response assets. Technical assistance or on-scene response from one or more agency HAZMAT responders is available on a 24/7 basis. VDEM also coordinates 12 state hazardous materials teams consisting of trained hazardous materials technicians and specialists across the Commonwealth. 

The VDEM Hazardous Materials Program also supported 10 advanced hazardous materials classes, both virtual and in-person, during the reporting period which resulted in 12,176 student contact hours. Two major projects accomplished during the reporting period included the acquisition of new chemical detection equipment to upgrade VDEM HAZMAT Program field response capabilities and the implementation of regional equipment caches to purchase highly-specialized response equipment for use by the hazardous materials teams and other responders during large-scale events.

Integrated Flood Observation and Warning System (IFLOWS) is an Automated Flood Warning System (AFWS) consisting of 282 rain gauges and 72 stream gauges located in 40 Virginia localities. VDEM owns, operates and maintains the system. IFLOWS measures and transmits hydrological data to local emergency managers, weather forecasters, floodplain planners, and engineers to improve community flood resilience. IFLOWS is deployed in flash-flood prone areas (mostly in vulnerable western communities of the Commonwealth) and provides continuous, real-time data to enable emergency decision making. IFLOWS is a primary tool to define flood risk in the Commonwealth.

VDEM coordinates emergency response and notification to radiological events at either resident nuclear power station (North Anna and Surry) through the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program. These include yearly drills evaluated by FEMA that encompass all localities surrounding the plants and all locality and state response organizations with radiological response responsibilities including the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Radiological Health, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia State Police and others.

The Disaster Logistics Branch is the central resource management component of VDEM. During both “blue-sky” days and disasters, the Disaster Logistics Branch coordinates resource requests from localities and tribal nations, manages receipt and distribution of disaster supplies, and assists state agencies in resource demands relative to disaster response and recovery. These activities often include the establishment, management, and staging of disaster relief points of distribution (PODs); fulfillment of resource requests from state Emergency Support Functions in the Virginia Emergency Support Team; the coordination of logistics for regional and state Incident Management Teams; the request and deployment of capabilities from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC); and the maintenance of equipment pods that can be set up to support incidents across the Commonwealth.

VDEM is also responsible for both strategic and operational planning as well as intelligence and information sharing. Planning provides a methodical manner to engage the whole community in preparedness efforts through the lifecycle of emergency and disaster preparedness. It helps determine required capabilities; identify gaps in capabilities; and establishes a framework for operationalizing roles and responsibilities to all hazards protection, prevention, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) unit within in VDEM supports steady state and disaster operations with geographic information system products for situational awareness, response operations, grants projects distribution, and recovery efforts for individual assistance. The GIS unit uses geospatial technology to collect, manage, analyze, and display information geospatially to provide a visual understanding of data. This GIS data provides VDEM, the VEST, state agency partners, and the public with real-time information using dynamically updated applications that identify operational readiness, resource status, and deployment of personnel; perform forecasting; and make data-driven decisions for the more effective management of disasters and events. Specific products provided by GIS include: ?? 1. Know Your Zone Evacuation state routes 2. Visualization of flood-prone geographies 3. Operational dashboards for response and recovery data 4. Geographic distribution of disaster assistance 5. Location and density of vulnerable populations and 6. Daily tracking of VDEM-engaged incidents to include hazardous materials, medical flights, and search and rescue missions

The Situational Awareness Unit products provided by the GIS drive data-driven decision-making for the Situational Awareness Unit (SAU), the Regional Staff, Response Programs, policymakers, and other state and local agencies. The SAU serves as the 24/7 central point for situational awareness and notification of events occurring across the Commonwealth. The Center coordinates the receipt and dissemination of relevant information to promote coordination among VDEM personnel; the State Fusion Center; state, local, and federal agencies; state emergency operations centers (EOC) nationwide; and federal homeland security and emergency response agencies.

The SAU also serves as the state warning point for Virginia’s two nuclear power stations and is the link to the federal government for the Nationwide Emergency Alert System (EAS). Information shared by the SAU to its partner agencies includes:

• Situational awareness of ongoing events and incidents

• Operational planning for imminent emergencies

• Status reporting of events and resource requests

• Public safety personnel tracking

• Off-hour notification for state agencies • Government alerts and warnings

• External emergency communications

VDEM’s Training, Education, and Exercise Division (TEED) coordinates and manages the Virginia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Training and Exercise program for state and local emergency management professionals, first responders, volunteer organizations, and private-sector partners.

The 9-1-1 & Geospatial Services (NGS) Bureau provides a variety of data and information services to local, state, and federal stakeholders. The bureau is organized into three service units:

• Public Safety Communications (PSC) Division

• Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) Division

• Regional Outreach Division

Collectively, the NGS divisions are prepared to assist any local 9-1-1 or GIS program as well as state agencies’ GIS programs, bringing their essential services to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The PSC Division supports local 9-1-1 programs through funding and technical assistance and provides staff support to the 9-1-1 Services Board. The VGIN Division supports local and state agency GIS programs through technical and data assistance and provides staff support to the VGIN Advisory Board. Both divisions utilize a common outreach effort through the bureau’s Regional Outreach Division.

The new Office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion (ODOI) will spearhead internal and external agency initiatives to achieve current goals outlined in the strategic roadmap related to diversity, opportunity, and inclusion. The overall goal of the ODOI will always align with the VDEM’s overall mission to ensure the most vulnerable and under-resourced community members are prioritized.

VDEM is recognized as the “best-in-class” emergency management agency on the eastern seaboard within the next three years by 1) stabilizing the agency budget by reducing reliance on federal grant funding, 2) establishing access to the necessary facilities to conduct effective emergency management response, coordination, and recovery in support of our localities and 3) providing emergency response capabilities to our localities and Virginians to save lives, reduce suffering, protect infrastructure, and preserve the environment.

The ability to be on the ground working alongside our local emergency managers within two hours or less of any natural or man-made disaster is an improvement in the ability to provide response and recovery services.  Because of the forward-leaning posture the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) pre-deploys assets in the areas of anticipated disaster.

1. Due to being co-located and pre-staged, VDEM was able to approve EMAC support in under 45 minutes and both VDEM and Virginia State Police were able to respond to the District of Columbia and the United States Capitol in under an hour to support the response to the January 6th attacks.  


2. VDEM, in support of the Virginia Mass Repatriation Plan, provided Incident Management capabilities for 30 days at the Dulles International Airport in support of Operation Allies Welcome which brought to Virginia and the United States of America, over 32,000 American Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents, Afghans Citizens seeking refuge, and those with special immigrant visas.  The agency was recognized by many for the leadership and professionalism provided during such a notable international event. 


3. Severe flooding impacted parts of Southwest Virginia in August of 2021, but specifically the Hurley area of Buchanan County. VDEM staff quickly responded in support of the locality providing Search and Rescue,  Incident Management, and damage assessment capabilities.  Over 68 structures were damaged with just under half of those destroyed. 

      4. Lastly, VDEM's response and recovery efforts during COVID-19 attest to our commitment to provide top-            level service to our local partners and untimely the citizens of the Commonwealth.  During the longest                running activation for COVID-19 (over 880 days), VDEM also supported 43 additional state-level events,            with 4,487 requests for assistance and 133 disaster procurement contracts written and awarded, each                having multiple purchase orders against those contracts. The disaster logistics team received and                      distributed 204,227,421 pieces of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic to local governments, state                      agencies, and non-profit entities. 

To build a consistent, fair, and impartial process in grant-making and delivery of services to all stakeholders.

Build high-performing teams and maintain alignment across the organization

• 

Eliminate federal grant funds use for core agency functions

• Incremental increase for the GF budget

Establish comprehensive planning and preparedness cycle
Expand professional development opportunities and programs for VDEM workforce
Integrate and execute a vision for NGS into the VDEM service model

Eliminate federal grant funds use for core agency functions

• Incremental increase for the GF budget

To enhance the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) capability and capacity
Build a new Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC)
Establish funding 7 regional RCCs

a. New statewide Emergency Operations Center (EOC) b. 7 Regional Coordination Centers (RCCs)

• Obtain design funding for new EOC; advocate for and engage with GA to establish funding for new EOC ($75M); and assess potential partnerships, establish funding requirements for 7 regional RCCs; IT infrastructure support for VEOC/Regions

Funds established to support agency and special operations emergency response operations

• Conduct strategic planning process to validate emergency response capabilities

Virginia Geographic Information Access Services

§ 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 that reference a geographic location or area or attribute data that can be related to a geographic area or location.

"Geographic information system (GIS)" means a computerized system that stores and links geographic data to allow a wide range of information processing and display operations, as well as map production, analysis, and modeling.

B. There is established within the Department of Emergency Management a Geographic Information Network Division (the Division), which shall foster the creative utilization of geographic information and oversee the development of a catalog of GIS data available in the Commonwealth. The Division shall be headed by a Division Coordinator who shall be under the supervision of and report to the State Coordinator of Emergency Management.

Compile a data catalog consisting of descriptions of GIS coverages maintained by individual executive branch and local government agencies. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require that GIS data be physically delivered to the Division. All executive branch agencies that maintain GIS databases shall report to the Division the details of the data that they develop, acquire, and maintain.

56-484.17. Wireless E-911 Fund; uses of Fund; enforcement; audit required.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Wireless E-911 Fund (the Fund). The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. 

§ 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 deems necessary. The operating expenses, administrative costs, and salaries of the employees of the Division shall be paid from the Wireless E-911 Fund created pursuant to § 56-484.17.

The Division shall provide staff support to the 9-1-1 Services Board and encourage, promote, and assist in the development and deployment of statewide enhanced emergency telecommunications systems.

Funds from the Wireless E-911 Fund shall be distributed to PSAPs or on behalf of PSAPs based on grant requests received by the Board each fiscal year. The Board shall establish criteria for receiving and making grants from the Fund, including procedures for determining the amount of a grant and payment schedule.

The Board shall give the highest priority to grants that support the regional or multijurisdictional deployment and sustainment of NG9-1-1, and it shall give secondary priority to grants that support the deployment and sustainment of (i) NG9-1-1 in a single jurisdiction and (ii) in-building repeaters that improve public safety radio coverage within buildings with impaired radio coverage. If requested by an originating service provider, the Board shall execute a contract to reimburse that originating service provider for its costs incurred to deliver 9-1-1 calls to the ESInet points of interconnection. The Board shall ensure that cost is minimized while still achieving necessary 9-1-1 service and ESInet objectives. 

Contracts on behalf of localities with service providers to ensure complete coverage.

Non-disaster funding to regional and local governments in support of programs that reduce the impact of emergencies and disasters.

Provides guidance and funding to programs that reduce the impact of emergencies and disasters at the regional and local level. The programs assist in the development of skills and capabilities that are useable in a variety of situations and scenarios.

Administration of federal, state and private grant funds for pass through to local government.

Funding for the aforementioned service areas that are used as pass through to local governments for preparedness comes from federal funds (99%), general fund dollars (>1%),Dominion Virginia Power funding for state and local government radiological emergency preparedness (>1%).

To build and sustain the capabilities of Virginia state and local responders and their partners in all phases of Emergency Management, through a comprehensive training and exercise program.  In order to achieve this goal our vision for training is that it must be responsive, realistic, performance-based, measureable, and inclusive. (Office of Training and Exercises mission and vision)

Protect Virginians by providing the knowledge and skills necessary for communities to effectively respond to an emergency or disaster.

Overall: Emergency management training, NIMS training and technical support, and HSEEP training and exercises.

Training: Course coordination, management and resource support; Knowledge Center/Learning Management Center (KC/LMS) management; NIMS compliance reporting; curriculum review; instructor certification; and web-based course development.

Exercises: Exercise design, development and evaluation; exercise corrective action program reporting, monitoring and improvement planning; technical support to localities for exercise development; and design, develop and evaluate annual VERTEX exercise.

Planning:  VDEM develops and maintains state emergency plans as blueprints for response to a variety of scenarios and assists communities in developing localized emergency operations plans.

Funding for agency training, direct program operations, and state agencies' non-disaster pass-through come from federal funds, general funds, Dominion Virginia Power funding for state and local government radiological emergency preparedness, and hazmat training funds from fire programs.

The Emergency Response and Recovery service area encompasses agency functions providing direct assistance to local governments and state agencies during emergencies and disasters, and functions internal to the agency to ensure the effectiveness of the commonwealth's organization and response to emergencies and disasters.

• Providing hazardous materials emergency response to chemical releases.

• Providing emergency response to incidents involving weapons of mass destructions

• Coordination of search and rescue operations.

• Provide technical assistance and support to localities and state agencies impacted by disasters in regard to the damage assessment process.

• Identify and coordinate personnel resources to support response and recovery operations which includes representatives from state agencies, reservists, private sector and voluntary agencies, contract services, Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), and mission assignments.

• Coordinate the delivery of disaster assistance to impacted communities to include but not limited to Stafford Act programs of public assistance, individual assistance and hazard mitigation.

Providing emergency response and recovery services to local governments and state agencies aligns directly with the agency's mission to protect Virginia from the impacts of emergencies and disasters. By providing these services, VDEM advances the overall commonwealth mission of protecting public safety and minimizing property damage following disasters and emergencies.

Emergency response to hazardous materials releases, acts of terrorism and environmental crimes.



Search and rescue coordination at the request of local law enforcement.



Provide assistance to local jurisdictions and volunteer units to develop search and rescue capability within their area or region.



Coordination of Virginia emergency management activities during emergencies and disasters through the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and Virginia Emergency Response Team (VERT).



Coordinate the timely delivery of disaster assistance programs available under the Stafford Act in coordination with FEMA following a presidential declaration.

Funding for the service area that has the agency response and recovery operations plus pass through disasters payments to state agencies come from federal funds (56%), general fund (11%), commonwealth transportation fund (33%) and disaster response funds from hazardous materials billings (<1%).

This service area is responsible for the delivery of state and federal disaster assistance to affected communities to include individuals, families and businesses, state agencies and eligible private non-profit organizations. Disaster assistance can take the form of technical assistance and guidance, direct federal assistance, and supplemental assistance that can be financial and non-financial in nature. Disaster assistance is authorized by The Robert T. Stafford Act (Public Law 93-288 as amended) and the Emergency Services and Disaster Law (Code of Virginia, Title 44 Chapter 3.2). Additional supplemental assistance is also available through existing sector programs (e.g., community development block grants), the Small Business Administration, voluntary organizations, and donated resources. These disaster and non-disaster programs that are brought to bear to support  all phases of the recovery process – short-, interim- and long-term, assist the affected communities and the state in expediting the recovery process in a context of defined goals and objectives to include the reduction of disaster losses and the protection of life and property from future damages.

This service area assists eligible applicants that may include depending on the program the following: local governments; state agencies; selected private non-profit agencies; individuals, households and businesses. The Recovery and Mitigation Division provides technical assistance, guidance and support in coordination with their partner agencies at all levels  to affected communities to include:  development and validation of damage assessment and associated impact information to support requests for assistance from available programs; the delivery, management, tracking and monitoring of available disaster assistance to eligible applicants to include addressing unmet needs; the establishment  and implementation of recovery and mitigation operations at the VEOC and Joint Field Office and associated area offices to support the delivery of disaster assistance in a timely manner;  and training and outreach as well as planning. 

Grants, loans and other types of disaster assistance are available after a declaration of an emergency or major disaster by the president or the governor to include disaster assistance programs available through the Stafford Act, the Small Business Administration, state programs as well as voluntary organizations. The primary federal disaster assistance programs administered by FEMA include:  Individual and Households Other Needs Assistance (ONA) Program, Public Assistance Program, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and Fire Management Assistance Grant.

This assistance is complemented by loans through the Small Business Administration and other disaster assistance and support from voluntary organizations.



This service area also includes the delivery of disaster assistance through a variety of state programs to include the following:

• Commonwealth’s emergency relief to Localities which is structured very similar to the federal Public Assistance program in terms of eligibility and categories of work.


• The Virginia Disaster Relief Fund which was established to support the unmet needs of individuals and households following a disaster through donated and state resources.


• The Public Assistance Employee Assistance Program which is designed to address unmet needs of employees of state or local public safety agencies responding to a man-made or natural disaster that have experienced an extreme personal or family hardship in the affected area.  The extreme personal or family hardship and associated unmet needs must be documented. 

Providing disaster assistance to affected or at-risk communities is one of the foundations of our mission to protect Virginia from the impact of emergencies and disasters. This service area also aligns with our core values of putting people first in all that we do and fostering teamwork and alliances to achieve our mission.

Damage Assessment

Establishment of a Joint Field Office, area offices and other facilities such as Disaster Recovery Centers as required in coordination with FEMA to support the delivery of disaster assistance to affected communities.  Support is also provided to the Small Business Administration in the establishment of their field operations.

Training, outreach and education :  Pre- and post technical assistance and guidance, training, and other activities and initiatives to enhance the understanding of disaster assistance programs, associated processes, requirements and timelines to establish the capability to implement  and manage the delivery of disaster assistance programs in an efficient and effective manner.  



Grants management:  Administer and manage state and federal disaster assistance programs on behalf of the state and other eligible grant recipients, as outlined by Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster and Emergency Relief Act and related state laws and regulations.  Planning and preparedness:  Development of plans, procedures and policies to support the recovery and mitigation process and the delivery of associated disaster and non-disaster  assistance programs  to enhance the resiliency of communities and reduce future impacts and associated costs of disasters. 

The state funds for this service area are authorized by an executive order that declares that a state of emergency exists for a specific threat or event. As the grantee for disaster funds, the state matches the federal funds according to formulas specific to each federal program. There is no program budget for the state funds nor do the funds appear in the biennial state budgets. The budget amount in this program is 100% federal funds.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) is the functional entity that provides 24-hour crisis coordination, information dissemination and state warning point services.

The Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) service area directly aligns with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) mission of protecting the lives and property of Virginia's citizens from emergencies and disasters by performing critical infrastructure protection, management systems and communications task to maintain the states readiness for and capability to meet the actual demands of disasters and emergencies.

Emergency Communication and Warning, which is comprised of collecting appropriate information supporting Department of Emergency Management mission; analyzing the information collected; production of information/intelligence; and dissemination of information to the appropriate people in a timely manner.

Emergency Response Operations, which ensures a comprehensive, efficient and effective response to emergencies and disasters throughout Virginia.

Funding for communication, operations center and fusion center service area comes from federal funds (30%), general fund (40%), and Dominion Virginia Power funding for state and local government radiological emergency preparedness (30%)

This service area contains a variety of administrative and support services functions. These services include:

• General administration of agency mission activities

• Strategic planning functions

• Financial services such as accounting and budgeting

• General services functions to include procurement, vehicle management and maintenance, facility management, and stockroom and mailroom activities

• Human resources services to include recruitment, training, compensation and classification, benefits, employee relations and workforce planning

• Administration and training of reservist workforce

• Information technology services to include network and desktop support, training, security, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) products

This service area aligns with VDEM’s mission to lead the effort to protect Virginia from the impact of emergencies and disasters by providing general management and direction services to the programmatic functions.

Payments to vendors, staff, state agencies and localities



Reporting to federal and state government authorities and to internal management to include:

• 
  Quarterly federal grant reports


• 
  Monthly compliance reports for accounting and procurement


• 
  Monthly budget to actual variance reports


• 
  Annual fiscal year-end close reports

Compliance with state and federal regulations, policies and procedures



Procurement of goods and services



Maintenance of agency pool vehicles



Network and desktop maintenance



Preparation of technology specifications to support procurement of IT equipment



IT Training



IT reports and surveys as required by state control agencies.



Service areas policies and procedures



Geographic Information System (GIS) products to include printed maps, special analyses, and data layers



Recruitment and hiring of agency staff



Agency staff training.



Classification and compensation activities to ensure fair and adequate pay structure



Benefits administrative services to include leave, retirement, health insurance, etc.



Workforce planning to provide management with information to implement strategic planning



Counseling services to resolve employee and management issues



Responsible for the Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards (ARMICS) for the agency.

Funding for the administrative service area comes from federal funds (47%), general fund dollars (40%), Dominion Virginia Power funding for state and local government radiological emergency preparedness (10%) and other miscellaneous non-general funding (3%)

This service area contains a variety of administrative and support services functions. These services include:

• General administration of agency mission activities

• Strategic planning functions

• Financial services such as accounting and budgeting

• General services functions to include procurement, vehicle management and maintenance, facility management, and stockroom and mailroom activities

• Human resources services to include recruitment, training, compensation and classification, benefits, employee relations and workforce planning

• Administration and training of reservist workforce

• Information technology services to include network and desktop support, training, security, and geographical information systems (GIS) products

This service area aligns with VDEM’s mission to lead the effort to protect Virginia from the impact of emergencies and disasters by providing general management and direction services to the programmatic functions.

Payments to vendors, staff, state agencies and localities

Reporting to federal and state government authorities and to internal management • Quarterly federal grant reports • Monthly compliance reports for accounting and procurement • Monthly budget to actual variance reports • Annual fiscal year-end close reports

Compliance with state and federal regulations, policies and procedures

Procurement of goods and services Maintenance of agency pool vehicles Network and desktop maintenance

Preparation of technology specifications to support procurement of IT equipment

IT Training

IT reports and surveys as required by state control agencies.

Service areas policies and procedures

Geographic Information System (GIS) products to include printed maps, special analyses, and data layers

Recruitment and hiring of agency staff

Agency staff training.

Classification and compensation activities to ensure fair and adequate pay structure

Benefits administrative services to include leave, retirement, health insurance, etc.

Workforce planning to provide management with information to implement strategic planning

Counseling services to resolve employee and management issues

Responsible for the Agency Risk Management and Internal Control Standards (ARMICS) for the agency.

Funding for the administrative service area comes from federal funds (40%), general fund dollars (57%), Dominion Power funding for state and local government radiological emergency preparedness and other miscellaneous non-general funding (3%)