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

VDEM provides consistent excellence in the delivery of innovative and effective emergency management support and coordination through industry-leading practices, professionalism, and collaborative engagement for all stakeholders.

VDEM identifies three focus areas/values that guide agency objectives and key results.  

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  People and Culture 

  
  


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  Internal Operations 

  
  


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  Policy and Mandates 

  
  

In July 1973, Virginia formalized its commitment to protecting the Commonwealth and its residents from the impacts of natural and human-caused disasters. Just thirteen months after Hurricane Agnes caused record-breaking flooding across Virginia, the Commonwealth established the Virginia Office of Emergency Services. In 2000, the office was renamed the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) (Va. Code Ann. § 44-146.18), reflecting the growing scope and professionalism of the field.

Today, VDEM is a modern, statewide emergency management organization that works alongside local, state, tribal, federal, nonprofit, private-sector, and volunteer partners. The agency coordinates critical resources across the disaster lifecycle, from preparedness to response, recovery, and mitigation, and ensures that Virginia is prepared for, can withstand, and rapidly recovers from all-hazard events.

VDEM’s mission is to coordinate Virginia’s efforts throughout the disaster life cycle. This mission reflects the Commonwealth’s commitment to strengthening statewide readiness and ensuring that agencies, localities, and partners can operate effectively and cohesively during all phases of emergency management. By fostering collaboration and improving statewide capabilities, VDEM supports a resilient and well-coordinated emergency management system across Virginia.

The 9-1-1 Services Board and the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) Advisory Board further enhance the statewide emergency management enterprise. Through their leadership in next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services, geospatial data governance, mapping support, and statewide GIS coordination, these Boards provide critical capabilities that bolster VDEM’s mission and support coordinated preparedness and response across Virginia.

The risk landscape VDEM manages has expanded significantly. New threats and vulnerabilities emerge continuously, from cyberattacks and infrastructure disruptions to extreme weather driven by changing climate conditions, supply chain instability, chemical or technological hazards, and domestic security threats. Some events occur with little or no warning, requiring immediate action and rapid coordination. Others provide advance indicators that allow VDEM and its partners to posture resources, pre-deploy assets, activate the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST), and implement mitigation strategies to lessen the impact.

Through modernization, strengthened partnerships, enhanced data and situational awareness systems, and a posture of forward-leaning readiness, VDEM continues to evolve to meet the increasingly complex threats facing the Commonwealth.

VDEM’s core priorities include the following:

• Maintaining and updating the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP):


• Ensuring the COVEOP remains aligned with the latest federal doctrine and guidance, most notably Comprehensive Preparedness Guidance 101 (CPG 101), including all support and incident annexes. VDEM continues to follow a four-year revision cycle consistent with the requirements for localities, colleges, and universities.


• Strengthening the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST):


• Enhancing the VEST’s capabilities to effectively coordinate the Commonwealth’s response during disasters and emergencies.


• Supporting localities and state agencies:


• Providing direct technical, operational, and coordination assistance during emergencies and disasters, as well as performing essential internal functions that enable a unified and effective statewide response.


• Operating the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC):


• Delivering 24-hour crisis coordination, information-sharing, situational awareness, and state warning point services to support timely decision-making.


• Improving disaster financial management:


• Ensuring accurate and efficient financial processes to support recovery operations, reduce administrative burdens, and minimize the risk of audit findings or financial penalties for state agencies and local jurisdictions.


• Prioritizing professional development:


• Offering a robust set of training opportunities—including the Foundations and Advanced Emergency Management Academies—to employees and partners. 

Current Operational IT Investments

The Information Technology (IT) Division at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) consists of eleven (11) staff members responsible for the planning, administration, and first-tier support of mission-critical systems and applications. These systems enable operations across VDEM Headquarters, the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC), and Regional Offices.

All IT Division staff are integral members of the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) and provide direct support to VEOC operations during a State of Emergency declared by the Governor. The division also coordinates IT support for state personnel—including temporary staff and contractors—assigned to Joint Field Offices (JFOs) in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during disaster response and recovery operations. In addition to operational support, the division leads Continuity of IT Operations and Disaster Recovery (DR) planning across all agency sites, ensuring resilience and availability of mission-essential systems.

While VDEM relies on the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) for core infrastructure services (e.g., servers, networks, end-user devices, and networked printers), the agency has made significant progress in aligning with the Commonwealth’s IT Infrastructure Service Model. Phase I of the IT Transformation was completed in late 2022, and Phase II is ongoing. This includes the recent replacement of legacy systems such as the VOIP telephone system and Situational Awareness Unit call management system, as well as the adoption of cloud-based solutions and enterprise platforms.

The IT Division’s operational investments are guided by three strategic pillars: standardization, sustainability, and continuous improvement. These principles support the agency’s broader goals of reducing technical debt, leveraging enterprise VITA services, and building internal capacity to manage emergency management-specific IT solutions such as Microsoft 365, ESRI ArcGIS, Crisis Track, and OpenGOV.

Ongoing and planned initiatives include:

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  Emergency Operations Coordination Platform Transformation.

  
  


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  Enterprise-wide Asset and Inventory Management.

  
  


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  Telecommunications modernization and enhancements.

  
  


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  Website modernization to improve resiliency and flexibility.

  
  


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  Implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS) tailored to VDEM’s training needs.

  
  


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  Development of a statewide flood monitoring network to support real-time situational awareness.

  
  


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  Transition of IT funding from grants to stable general fund sources to ensure long-term sustainability.

  
  

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) has a maximum employment level of 229 full-time positions, with approximately 193 currently filled. The agency’s workforce is supplemented by 16 part-time employees and nearly 60 adjunct instructors who support training programs on an as-needed basis.

The composition of VDEM’s workforce has evolved significantly since the reorganization that occurred at the beginning of this administration and subsequent realignment efforts since then. While emergency management experience remains strong across the agency, the current workforce continues to trend younger and includes a higher number of employees with advanced degrees. VDEM has maintained robust recruitment efforts and has enhanced its internal metrics by leveraging dashboards and automation. VDEM continues to modernize recruitment strategies, including targeted outreach via LinkedIn, posting vacancies on emergency management and public safety association sites, and leveraging surrounding states and FEMA Region III partners to identify qualified candidates. Further, VDEM has been intentional about recruiting employees from non-traditional emergency management disciplines such as finance, information technology, and data management, resulting in a more diverse skillset that allows VDEM to address the increasingly complex incidents facing the Commonwealth. 

The emergency management profession remains highly competitive, with federal, state, and local governments—as well as private-sector and contractor organizations—seeking skilled practitioners. The recent realignment of the federal workforce has created a large pool of highly qualified applicants, which has benefited VDEM, but the salary ranges of our federal counterparts often exceed our ability to compete.  In response, VDEM continues to implement and refine strategies to strengthen recruitment and will be assessing ways to enhance retention across the agency:

• Enhanced Compensation: Increasing maximum advertised salaries to better position the agency in a competitive labor market.


• Targeted Recruitment: Broadening outreach to attract a diverse, highly qualified applicant pool with specialized skills.


• Career Development: Evaluating and expanding internal career pathways to retain high-performing staff and cultivate future agency leaders.


• Tuition Reimbursement Improvements: Revising the policy to support degree attainment and improve technical proficiency.


• Professional Development: Prioritizing ongoing training to ensure staff maintain current knowledge and competencies.


• Revamped Internship Program: Strengthening the pipeline of future emergency management professionals through practical, hands-on experience.

VDEM will continue to expand these efforts and explore new strategies to attract, develop, and retain a highly skilled and motivated workforce capable of meeting Virginia’s growing emergency management needs.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) does not own any of the primary facilities it currently occupies. The agency’s administrative headquarters in Chesterfield County is leased from a private company; the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) is housed in the basement of the Virginia State Police headquarters; and the Disaster Logistics Support and Coordination Center (LSCC), located in the southside of the City of Richmond near the Port of Richmond, is also leased space. Each facility serves a core function of VDEM’s mission, but all three have become operationally inadequate due to aging infrastructure, limited capacity, and expanded statewide emergency management responsibilities.

To address these challenges, VDEM submitted a capital project request in 2025 seeking the construction of a new emergency management complex (“EM Complex”). The EM Complex would consolidate the three separate facilities—the administrative headquarters, the VEOC, and the LSCC—into a single, purpose-built location designed to support current and future mission requirements. Co-locating these operations would streamline workflows, eliminate daily inefficiencies, improve disaster response coordination, and provide Virginia with the modern, resilient infrastructure necessary to meet the increased frequency, scale, and complexity of emergencies facing the Commonwealth.

Beyond the three Richmond-area facilities proposed for consolidation, VDEM also operates six regional offices (Fairfax, Culpeper, Roanoke, Abington, Farmville, and Suffolk), a hazardous materials/CBRNE training center in York County, and a wilderness search-and-rescue training site at the Hanover Public Safety Center. These facilities would remain operational; however, centralizing Richmond-based functions would enhance coordination, streamline communication, and improve the overall effectiveness of statewide operations.

VDEM has identified several forces and emerging challenges that could significantly affect the agency’s ability to carry out its mission and achieve its long-term vision.

First, emergency events place immediate strain on daily operations and force the agency to shift rapidly into response mode. VDEM employees must be prepared to react to any threat or disaster—regardless of cause, severity, or scope. Without modernized planning systems, coordinated outreach, strong partnerships, sufficient staffing levels, and current technology, the risks associated with transitioning into an active emergency increase substantially.

Second, the recruitment and retention of highly skilled personnel is a critical risk factor. VDEM must provide competitive compensation, sustained training, and professional development to attract and retain emergency management professionals capable of operating in a complex and evolving disaster environment. As disasters become more frequent and more demanding, the need for specialized expertise continues to grow.

Third, the inability to secure stable, predictable, and adequate funding presents a significant challenge—one that has intensified due to emerging changes at FEMA.

In recent years, FEMA has signaled—and in some cases begun implementing—shifts in national emergency management capability expectations and funding priorities. These shifts include potential reductions in federal support for state and local preparedness, decreased investment in logistics and resource readiness, and increasing emphasis on state and local self-sufficiency. As federal preparedness and mitigation dollars become less certain or more narrowly tailored, VDEM bears a greater responsibility to fund, train, equip, and prepare the Commonwealth and its local partners. Limited or unstable funding threatens the agency’s ability to:

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  deliver needed training and exercises,

  
  


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  maintain statewide readiness and logistics capability,

  
  


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  support localities in preparing for emergencies, and

  
  


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  effectively respond to, recover from, and mitigate future events.

  
  

Lastly, VDEM faces the ongoing risk of not meeting rising expectations from the public and from state, local, and federal partners. VDEM serves as a primary information source for the public, local governments, the media, and elected officials during emergencies. To maintain trust and ensure effective incident coordination, the agency must sustain multiple reliable communication platforms and deliver timely, accurate, and actionable information—an expectation that becomes more challenging as disasters become more complex and public demand for real-time information increases.

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 core responsibilities is reimbursing state agencies and local jurisdictions in a timely manner for eligible costs incurred during disaster response and recovery. These reimbursements are funded through federal appropriations that often span multiple fiscal years, and as a result, they are not always reflected within VDEM’s annual operating budget. Federal funding represents approximately 75% of VDEM’s total budget and remains the primary driver of disaster-related financial activity.

VDEM also manages seven special revenue funds, including the Wireless E-911 Fund, which is supported through a fee collected from wireless account holders. In total, these special revenue sources account for roughly 15% of the agency’s budget and support critical programs that operate outside of the General Fund.

The remaining 12% of VDEM’s budget comes from General Fund appropriations. These funds support essential agency operations, baseline staffing, and, in some cases, one-time projects or initiatives that cannot be funded through federal or special revenue sources.

Operationally, VDEM supported more than 60 incidents from the Logistics Support and Coordination Center and responded to a wide range of emergencies, including winter weather, hurricanes, and flooding. The agency maintained 24/7 situational awareness and supported 19 EMAC missions while hosting 16 inbound missions during Hurricane Helene. VDEM also responded to 144 missing person cases and 65 9-1-1 outages, reinforcing our role as a critical response agency. Our accomplishments are a direct reflection of the dedication and resilience of VDEM’s professionals who continuously adapt and excel in evolving emergency environments. Through a revitalized strategic planning process, VDEM implemented agile methodologies and cross-functional Tiger Teams to drive progress. Key initiatives included the creation of the “EMbark” onboarding program, the development of a Commonwealth Preparedness Cycle, and the digitization of all state and federal mandates for improved accessibility and accountability. VDEM demonstrated exceptional financial stewardship, managing over $1.7 billion in disaster funds with zero audit findings. The agency processed more than $420 million in federal grant payments and secured $716 million in federal revenues for state, local, and nonprofit partners. By automating sub-recipient monitoring and integrating financial systems, VDEM significantly increased efficiency and transparency. This advancement was exemplified during the Hurricane Helene recovery, when the first Public Assistance reimbursement was issued to the Town of Appalachia within just 70 days of the disaster declaration, a substantial improvement from the previous six-month average. VDEM updated numerous statewide disaster plans, including the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and specialized annexes for cyberresponse, radiological emergencies, and hurricanes. The team also expanded our outreach and partnerships, launching the Endeavor private sector exchange with over 1,700 members. 

Training and education remained a top priority, with VDEM delivering 327 courses to more than 5,300 students and conducting 34 exercises involving over 3,700 participants. Partnerships with the Department of Social Services and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner helped expand training in mass care and fatality management.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) serves the localities, all state agency partners, regional state and federal partners, elected officials at all levels, and residents with damages after a disaster. Efforts to maintain or increase these partnerships impact the Virginia Emergency Support Team's ability to respond and assist in recovery. 

VDEM anticipates its customer base increasing as the population increases and due to the continuing goal of full integration of services and programs. 

Examples of areas of increase include: 

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  Disability Community – The Access & Functional Needs Advisory Committee (AFNAC) is comprised of subject-matter experts from state disability services 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 the response to identify and resolve citizens' 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. 

  
  

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  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. 

  
  

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  Non-profit organizations and private sector partners – Through the outreach of the Division, partnerships 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). 

  
  

An incident starts at the community level. From a tornado touchdown to terrorism, the exact point starts within one or more Virginia localities. With that understanding, the Regional Support East and Regional Support West Divisions offer the depth of skills found within each of the seven regional teams. Each region has, at a minimum, a Hazardous Materials Officer, an All Hazards Planner, a Disaster Response and Recovery Officer, and a Chief Regional Coordinator. They can be on-site at almost any scene in two hours or less and can assist with coordinating any portion of the response that is helpful to a locality, higher education, and regional or non-profit partners with plans, response, and recovery from small or large events. They also assist with securing additional resources as an event grows in scope and scale. The regional staff are the locality’s first contact for all VDEM activities. 

As an incident spreads to a greater number of localities, the VDEM regional team works with the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) to bring additional resources to bear. This enhanced posture provides the local emergency manager with a quicker and more integrated response when assistance is needed. 

The VEST is a combination of more than 40 state agencies, private and non-profit partners working together to share information, make immediate decisions, and deploy additional resources ranging from specialty teams (search and rescue, incident management team, UAV monitoring) to access to emergency contracts for debris removal or trucks of provisions for first responders or citizens. To maintain a level of readiness that includes a rotating team, with a two-hour recall response, and involves monthly training and exercises. Entire sections of the VEST must train and exercise together routinely in the Virginia Emergency Operations Center as well as in the field with the local agencies and non-profit organizations. 

To keep this response level at optimal readiness requires effective programs, including grants management, a statewide training program, local, state, and federal coordinating exercises, maintenance and monitoring of the equipment and training certifications for all specialty teams, and a situational awareness structure that allows data to be mined and integrated for future planning. These programs are the core of the central office of VDEM and work in coordination with the VEST partners and federal agencies focused on public safety concerns. The services provided to support the VEST are evident; however, each program also supports the local governments in their routine duties, including citizen and local elected official education, as well as training and exercise of local first responders. 

The Operations Division includes the Regional Support Divisions referenced above, as well as the Operations Support and Special Operations Divisions. These divisions coordinate special teams such as Incident Management Teams (IMTs), Search and Rescue, Technical Rescue, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Urban Search and Rescue, and Hazardous Materials response. Ensuring these teams are ready to respond includes coordination of appropriate Memoranda of Understanding, having a strategic plan to ensure staff training and equipment refresh meet the response demands, and coordination of teams in routine agency and local events in order to maintain a balance of exercises with drills. The Logistics Support and Coordination Division supports these specialty teams as well as VDEM and the VEST by providing resources.  

In the Office of the Chief of Staff Bureau, the Human Resources Division manages the recruitment, onboarding, and day-to-day concerns of all employees – including adjunct faculty.. The Strategic Communications Division coordinates communications with the media, elected officials, citizens, and all emergency management partners. The Policy and Projects Office has 3 areas of responsibility: intergovernmental affairs, strategic planning and policies, and data analytics. 

Likewise, the Finance Bureau manages the appropriations, purchasing, payment, and all grants across the agency, as well as passes through to local government entities in the form of grants. During activation, these divisions join to ensure surge staffing levels are met and all time, costs, and missions are captured for financial reconciliation and reimbursement. The Grants Management and Recovery Division develops and trains staff to support the recovery efforts for one or more localities. This includes development of custom training, planning, and financial tool kits. As an activation transitions from response to recovery, this team works in the field to ensure assessment of damages, voluntary resources are made available, and that all impacted know their resources and points of contact for specific recovery issues. 

The Preparedness Bureau is comprised of three divisions. The Planning Division is responsible for the statewide planning, including threat and risk assessment, continuity of operations, and the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan. The Situational Awareness Unit (SAU), Critical Infrastructure, and Fusion Center functions reside within the  Awareness and Intelligence Division. The SAU is a 24/7 operation managing the deployment and return to base of assets, situational awareness, and notification of any incident, and data gathering for any situational awareness product development. The VDEM Fusion Center staff works both in the Virginia State Police Fusion Center, working homeland security intelligence, but also works on plans to assist in situation awareness, future planning, and components of the threat and risk plans. The Training, Education, and Exercise Division works closely with agency partners to provide emergency management training 

The State Coordinators' office includes the VEST Division. VEST Division staffing includes the full-time management of the training, exercise, and crisis applications systems that support a planned or no-notice event. This includes cross-training approximately 30 emergency support function duties across more than 40 state agencies, private, and non-profit partners. In addition, the staff serves as the leaders for each of the three on-call VEST teams to ensure continuity across the shifts of activation.  

VDEM’s measures of performance have evolved substantially following the 2017 reorganization and the 2025 realignment. One major improvement is the agency’s enhanced ability to deploy personnel. VDEM now maintains the capability to have staff on the ground and working alongside local emergency managers within two hours of a natural or human-caused incident. In addition, the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST) takes a forward-leaning posture by pre-deploying assets to regions expected to experience disaster impacts, such as projected hurricane landfall areas. These improvements reflect the significant transformation in coordination, speed, and expectations of response and recovery over the last decade.

Another key area of performance improvement is the continued development and integration of VDEM’s specialty teams. The agency has long-standing partnerships with teams specializing in Incident Management, Search and Rescue, Hazardous Materials response, and other mission-critical capabilities. VDEM now employs a more forward-leaning approach during disasters by leveraging these teams earlier in operations, engaging them directly in the grant stakeholder process, and incorporating them into statewide training and exercises. This integration has resulted in a more cohesive, coordinated, and effective approach to response and recovery operations.

Financially, VDEM has strengthened its performance by consolidating all grants into a single division and integrating those functions with the agency’s financial processes, including the E911 program. This restructuring has created substantial efficiencies, including a single point of contact for all funding streams, unified procedures across programs, automation of documentation exchange, and expedited reimbursement and payment processing.

VDEM has also made significant internal improvements to streamline operations, modernize financial processes, and strengthen statewide emergency management capability. Today, 99% of the agency’s administrative processes operate through digital workflows, greatly reducing processing time and increasing transparency. VDEM has fully leveraged the Commonwealth’s Microsoft 365 environment to minimize costs while expanding functionality, collaboration, and document management efficiency.

Aligns with People and Culture Goal / Focus Area

The Human Resources Division and representatives from all other VDEM Divisions worked together to develop a comprehensive onboarding process for new employees.

• Development and implementation of a comprehensive onboarding program for all employees

Standardize and digitize the onboarding process by creating a requirements list and timeline to capture all knowledge, experience, equipment, training and access required for each position at VDEM

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• Establish a digital dashboard that displays agency priorities and is kept up to date with status; reviewed and acted upon in a formalized cadence throughout FY 2024 and beyond

Measures

SharePoint list developed and published on agency SharePoint site

Individual initiative progress reviewed and documented monthly

Overall progress reviewed quarterly with the Strategic Planning Committee

• Select three processes that have been established as critical agency processes, undergo standardization, and determine feasibility of automation.

• Identify critical agency processes and system integrations that would benefit from standardization.

Measures

Establish a transparent financial reporting process and train divisions on their responsibilities in compliance with the reporting process

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Understanding the infrastructure of the Commonwealth – from a threat analysis perspective – provides a manner to prioritize resources

• Statewide plans including CTHIRA and THIRA are completed

Plans guide the decision-making and flow of information critical to an effective response

• Local EOPs plans up to date and approved by the local elected officials

Through training and exercises all response and recovery partners learn to function effectively and efficiently during an actual disaster

• Staff are trained and prepared through a training program; Staff are trained and prepared through an exercise program

Through training and exercises all response and recovery partners learn to function effectively and efficiently during an actual disaster

• Staff are trained and prepared through a training program

Staff are trained and prepared through an exercise program

VEST training (multi agency, non-profit, private) are trained together to practice functions in preparation for an activation

Assets are ready for deployment based on incident and are deployed in advance where needed

• State assets respond to on site disasters to provide support and technical assistance in saving life and property

Crisis systems that support response and recovery are operational and available to staff

VEST training (multi agency, non-profit, private) are trained together to practice functions in preparation for an activation

VDEM’s federal grant funds have been reduced by 70% over the past decade, leaving the capability to respond and coordinate recovery vulnerable

Expenses reimbursement encourages localities to invest in maintain their preparedness infrastructure

• To reduce the number of federal disaster projects due to projects being closed (paid) and ultimately closing open disasters and fully repaying eligible applicants

Drawing on new grant sources may allow emergency response programs to continue at some level as other federal funding streams are reduced

• Increase in funding from non-traditional sources (special, general and new grants)

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.

Provides critical non-disaster funding to local governments to build, sustain, and enhance programs that reduce the impacts of emergencies and disasters. This service area supports foundational capabilities that strengthen preparedness and resilience across the Commonwealth.

This program advances the Commonwealth’s emergency management mission by delivering essential guidance and financial support to local partners. These investments build and maintain the skills, capacities, and systems required to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from a wide range of emergencies and hazards.

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

Funding for this service area consists primarily of federal dollars (approximately 99%). The remaining support includes limited general fund dollars (less than 1%) and contributions from Dominion Energy for state and local radiological emergency preparedness activities (less than 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 Planning Preparedness Assistance service area provides statewide leadership, coordination, and technical expertise to ensure that Virginia maintains effective and up-to-date emergency plans and preparedness capabilities. This program supports emergency operations planning across all levels of government; facilitates alignment with federal doctrine; coordinates preparedness activities; and ensures that local, state, and institutional partners can respond effectively to the full spectrum of hazards facing the Commonwealth.

This service area also manages statewide planning initiatives, specialized hazard planning, and preparedness programs that strengthen Virginia’s overall readiness and ability to coordinate during complex, multi-jurisdictional emergencies.

This service area aligns directly with VDEM’s mission to coordinate Virginia’s prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery capabilities. By ensuring that emergency plans, annexes, and supporting procedures are current, scalable, and interoperable, VDEM provides the foundation for a unified statewide approach to emergency management and readiness.

Authority for this service area is established under:

• Code of Virginia §44-146.13 et seq. (Emergency Services and Disaster Law)


• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Comprehensive Planning Guidance 101 (CPG 101)


• National Incident Management System (NIMS)


• National Response Framework (NRF)

These authorities mandate or guide the development, maintenance, and alignment of emergency plans across the Commonwealth.

Statewide Emergency Operations Planning

• Development, maintenance, and four-year revision of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP), including all support, functional, and incident annexes.


• Alignment of state planning efforts with CPG 101, NRF, NIMS, and other federal doctrine.

?  Local and Regional Planning Support

• Technical assistance to local governments, state agencies, colleges, and universities in plan development and updates.


• Review and assessment of local Emergency Operations Plans to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.

?  Training, Workshops, and Preparedness Guidance

• Delivery of planning best practices, guidance documents, templates, and training modules.


• Facilitation of planning workshops across all regions to improve partner understanding and capability.

?  Exercise Design, Coordination, and Evaluation

• Development and execution of preparedness exercises at local, regional, and statewide levels.


• After-action reviews, improvement planning, and corrective action tracking.

?  Specialized Hazard Planning

• Planning related to cybersecurity, radiological events, mass care, evacuation, transportation, critical infrastructure, continuity of operations, ESF capabilities, and emerging threats.

?  Stakeholder Coordination and Engagement

• Facilitation of planning committees, working groups, and interagency coordination structures.


• Integration of federal, state, local, tribal, nonprofit, and private-sector partners into statewide preparedness efforts.

The Emergency Planning Preparedness Assistance service area supports statewide readiness efforts by coordinating planning initiatives, building preparedness capabilities, and ensuring that local governments, state agencies, and partner organizations have the tools and guidance needed to prepare for emergencies and disasters. This service area focuses on developing, maintaining, and enhancing plans, procedures, and readiness activities that strengthen Virginia’s overall emergency management posture.

Key functions include:

• Developing and maintaining statewide emergency operations plans, annexes, and supporting procedures.

• Supporting local governments and state agencies in developing and updating emergency operations plans.

• Coordinating preparedness initiatives across state agencies to ensure alignment with the Commonwealth’s emergency management framework.

• Facilitating and reviewing continuity of operations (COOP) and continuity of government (COG) planning across state government.

• Providing planning guidance, templates, and technical assistance to localities, state agencies, and partner organizations.

• Integrating lessons learned from exercises, real-world events, and after-action processes into future planning efforts.

Emergency planning and preparedness support aligns with the agency’s mission by coordinating statewide efforts that strengthen readiness and ensure unified emergency management planning across the Commonwealth. Through comprehensive planning and preparedness activities, VDEM enhances Virginia’s ability to anticipate, manage, and recover from emergencies and disasters. This service area reinforces statewide coordination, ensures consistent planning standards, and promotes effective collaboration among government, private-sector, and nonprofit partners.

• Development and maintenance of Commonwealth-level emergency operations plans and supporting documents.


• Technical assistance to local governments and state agencies for emergency operations, hazard-specific, and continuity planning.


• Guidance, planning templates, and readiness tools that support statewide preparedness.


• Facilitation and coordination of COOP and COG planning efforts across statewide agencies.


• Integration of after-action findings into planning processes to enhance future preparedness.


• Coordination of planning workgroups, committees, and stakeholder engagement sessions to ensure inclusive and aligned planning outcomes.

Funding for this service area is primarily supported through federal preparedness grants, with additional support from state general funds depending on project scope and planning requirements. Activities include both direct agency planning and technical assistance to state agencies and local governments.

The Emergency Operations Management service area oversees the coordination, management, and execution of statewide emergency operations before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. This program maintains the Commonwealth’s central operational coordination capability and ensures that state agencies, local governments, and partner organizations can effectively carry out their emergency management roles.

Key functions include:

• Managing and operating the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC).

• Coordinating statewide response operations through the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST).

• Maintaining situational awareness and providing statewide incident monitoring, reporting, and analysis.

• Facilitating information sharing among state agencies, local governments, federal partners, and private-sector and nonprofit stakeholders.

• Supporting executive-level decision-making through operational updates, status reporting, and resource coordination.

• Managing resource requests, mission assignments, and logistics support during emergencies and disasters.

• Ensuring the readiness of VEOC systems, staffing, communications platforms, and operational facilities.

Emergency operations management is central to the agency’s mission by coordinating statewide emergency response functions and ensuring an organized and unified operational posture. Through continuous monitoring, coordinated operations, and effective information sharing, VDEM strengthens the Commonwealth’s capacity to manage emergencies and support localities and state agencies. This service area ensures that the state’s operational systems, processes, and teams are equipped to manage all-hazards events efficiently and consistently.

• 24/7 operation of the Virginia Emergency Operations Center and statewide situation monitoring.


• Activation and management of the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST).


• Operational coordination, resource management, and mission assignment processing.


• Situational reports, incident summaries, and executive briefings for senior leadership.


• Maintenance and readiness of VEOC systems, communications, and operational technologies.


• Coordination with federal partners, regional partners, voluntary organizations, and the private sector during emergencies.


• Support for statewide logistics, resource tracking, and operational planning.

Funding for Emergency Operations Management is primarily supported through federal preparedness and operations grants, with supplemental general fund support for essential VEOC and VEST functions. Operational activities include staffing, systems maintenance, logistics support, and statewide coordination efforts during emergency activations.

The Emergency Response and Recovery service area delivers core operational functions that provide direct support to local governments and state agencies during emergencies and disasters. These services also include essential internal coordination functions that ensure the Commonwealth’s systems, personnel, and resources are organized and effective when responding to complex events.

Key functions include:

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  Providing hazardous materials emergency response for chemical releases and related incidents.

  
  


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  Conducting emergency response operations involving weapons of mass destruction.

  
  


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  Coordinating statewide search and rescue operations.

  
  


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  Delivering technical assistance to localities and state agencies for damage assessments following disasters.

  
  


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  Identifying, coordinating, and deploying personnel resources—including state agencies, reservists, private sector partners, voluntary agencies, EMAC personnel, and contracted support—to meet response and recovery needs.

  
  


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  Coordinating the full range of disaster assistance programs available under the Stafford Act, including Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation grants.

  
  

This service area directly supports the Commonwealth’s mission to maintain statewide readiness and ensure an effective, coordinated response to emergencies. By providing timely response operations and comprehensive recovery support, VDEM strengthens public safety, accelerates community recovery, and reduces the long-term impacts of disasters across Virginia.

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  Hazardous materials emergency response to chemical incidents, terrorism events, and environmental crimes.

  
  


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

  
  


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  Development and sustainment of search and rescue capability within localities and volunteer units.

  
  


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  Statewide emergency management coordination through the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) and the Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST).

  
  


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  Coordination of Stafford Act disaster assistance with FEMA after a presidential disaster declaration to ensure timely delivery of Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation programs.

  
  

Funding for this service area—including agency response and recovery operations and disaster-related pass-through payments to state agencies—derives from multiple sources:

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 Disaster Recovery and Mitigation service area provides statewide leadership, coordination, and technical support to accelerate recovery from disasters and reduce future hazard impacts. This program ensures that local governments, state agencies, and communities have the resources, guidance, and technical assistance necessary to recover efficiently and strengthen resilience.

Key functions include:

• Coordinating recovery operations following presidential or gubernatorial disaster declarations.


• Providing technical assistance to local governments, state agencies, and eligible private nonprofit organizations in implementing recovery programs.


• Supporting the development and validation of damage assessments and disaster impact data.


• Managing and tracking disaster assistance programs, grants, and loans to ensure timely delivery and compliance.


• Administering mitigation programs that reduce the impact of future disasters, including hazard mitigation planning, project review, and grant management.


• Conducting outreach, training, and guidance initiatives to improve the capacity of local governments and communities to implement mitigation and recovery strategies.

This service area aligns directly with VDEM’s mission by ensuring the Commonwealth can efficiently recover from disasters and reduce future risks. Disaster recovery and mitigation activities strengthen community resilience, protect life and property, and support a coordinated approach among local, state, and federal partners.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288, as amended)


• Emergency Services and Disaster Law, Code of Virginia §44-146.13 et seq.


• FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and other federal mitigation programs

• Recovery Coordination: Coordination of disaster recovery operations at the VEOC, Joint Field Office (JFO), and local area offices.


• Damage Assessment: Collection, validation, and analysis of damage and impact data to determine eligibility for state and federal assistance programs.


• Program Administration: Management of federal, state, and voluntary disaster assistance programs, including grants, loans, and supplemental funding to eligible applicants.


• Mitigation Planning and Support: Technical guidance and oversight for hazard mitigation planning, project development, and funding administration.


• Training and Outreach: Education and technical assistance to localities, state agencies, and nonprofit partners on recovery and mitigation programs and best practices.


• Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitation of multi-agency collaboration to ensure effective recovery, reduce duplication, and improve future disaster resilience.

Funding for Disaster Recovery and Mitigation operations is primarily provided through federal disaster assistance programs, including FEMA Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs, as well as other federal and state mitigation programs. State matching funds are allocated according to program-specific formulas. This service area is almost entirely supported through non-general funds derived from federal grants and disaster-specific appropriations.

The Emergency Management Training and Exercise service area provides statewide leadership, coordination, and delivery of training, professional development, and exercise programs for VDEM staff, local governments, state agencies, and partner organizations. This service area ensures personnel across the Commonwealth have the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all-hazards emergencies.

Key functions include:

• Development and delivery of standardized emergency management training programs for local, regional, and state personnel.


• Design, coordination, and evaluation of exercises at local, regional, and statewide levels to test emergency plans, procedures, and operational capabilities.


• Integration of lessons learned from exercises, real-world events, and after-action reviews into training and preparedness initiatives.


• Coordination with federal, state, local, private-sector, and nonprofit partners to enhance multi-jurisdictional and interagency capabilities.


• Support for specialized training initiatives such as hazardous materials response, search and rescue, radiological preparedness, and continuity of operations.

This service area supports VDEM’s mission by enhancing the preparedness and operational capability of emergency management personnel throughout the Commonwealth. Training and exercises improve the coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness of emergency operations and ensure that personnel are ready to respond to evolving hazards and threats.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Code of Virginia §44-146.13 et seq. (Emergency Services and Disaster Law)


• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Preparedness Grant Guidance


• National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101

• Training Program Delivery:
  
  
  
  • Development and administration of foundational and advanced emergency management courses for VDEM staff, localities, and state agencies.
  
  
  • Tuition assistance, continuing education support, and access to professional development programs.
  
  
  
  


• Exercises:
  
  
  
  • Planning, facilitation, and evaluation of exercises to test emergency operations, interagency coordination, and hazard-specific response capabilities.
  
  
  • After-action reports, improvement planning, and corrective action tracking to strengthen future readiness.
  
  
  
  


• Specialized Training:
  
  
  
  • Hazard-specific training for Emergency Support Functions (ESFs), search and rescue, hazardous materials, radiological response, and continuity of operations.
  
  
  
  


• Stakeholder Engagement:
  
  
  
  • Collaboration with federal, state, local, private-sector, and nonprofit partners to ensure training and exercises reflect real-world coordination requirements.
  
  
  
  


• Capability Assessment:
  
  
  
  • Monitoring training completion, performance outcomes, and exercise results to identify gaps and target future preparedness initiatives.
  
  
  
  

Funding for this service area is primarily supported through federal preparedness and training grants for core training and exercise operations. Activities include course development, exercise facilitation, specialized training, professional development support, and performance evaluation.

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.

• 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


• 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, general fund dollars, special funds, 

• 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 service,s Maintenance of agency pool vehicle


• 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 a 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.

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.

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

• 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


• Geographical information systems (GIS) products

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

The Information Technology Services service area provides VDEM with centralized IT support, infrastructure management, and technology solutions that enable the agency to plan, coordinate, respond, and recover from emergencies and disasters efficiently. This service area ensures that VDEM staff, regional offices, and operational facilities—including the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) and Disaster Logistics Coordination Center—have secure, reliable, and modern IT systems to support mission-critical operations.

Key functions include:

• Managing agency-wide IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud systems, and endpoints.


• Maintaining and upgrading operational technology used in the VEOC, regional offices, and mobile response units.


• Supporting digital workflows, financial systems, and grants management platforms.


• Ensuring cybersecurity, data protection, and compliance with state and federal IT standards.


• Providing technical support, training, and guidance for all VDEM staff on IT systems and applications.


• Implementing technology solutions that improve operational efficiency, situational awareness, and coordination with local, state, federal, and private-sector partners.

Information Technology Services is critical to VDEM’s mission by ensuring uninterrupted, reliable, and secure technology support for emergency management operations. IT services enhance the agency’s ability to coordinate statewide response, manage disaster logistics, communicate with partners, and maintain situational awareness.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Code of Virginia §44-146.18 (Virginia Department of Emergency Management – powers and duties)


• Statewide IT governance policies and standards under the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)

• IT Infrastructure Management: Oversight of networks, servers, cloud systems, and communication systems to ensure operational continuity.


• Operational Technology Support: VEOC systems, mobile response units, and Disaster Logistics Coordination Center technology support and maintenance.


• Digital Workflow and Financial Systems: Implementation and support of automated workflows, grants management, and financial reporting systems, including Microsoft 365 and other state-supported platforms.


• Cybersecurity and Data Protection: Monitoring, securing, and safeguarding all agency IT assets and sensitive data.


• Technical Assistance and Training: Staff training, help desk support, and guidance to ensure effective use of IT systems.


• Innovation and Systems Improvement: Deployment of modern technology solutions that increase efficiency, improve coordination, and enhance operational capabilities across all VDEM programs.

Funding for Information Technology Services is primarily supported through state general funds and federal IT or preparedness grants. Activities include system maintenance, upgrades, operational technology support, cybersecurity, digital workflows, and technical assistance. Investment in IT services enables VDEM to maintain operational readiness, enhance coordination, and reduce risks during emergency response and recovery operations.

The Accounting and Budgeting Services service area provides centralized financial management, oversight, and reporting for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). This program ensures the efficient and compliant management of all financial resources, including state appropriations, federal grants, special revenue funds, and disaster-related funding. Accounting and budgeting services support operational readiness, effective program execution, and timely financial reporting to internal and external stakeholders.

Key functions include:

• Management of VDEM’s accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting systems.


• Administration and oversight of federal, state, and private grant funds, including pass-through funding to local governments and agencies.


• Financial planning, forecasting, and analysis to support decision-making and resource allocation.


• Monitoring compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and policies governing financial management.


• Processing payments, reimbursements, and financial transactions in accordance with applicable standards.


• Providing technical guidance and training to VDEM staff on financial policies, procedures, and systems.


• Supporting audits, internal controls, and continuous improvement initiatives to maintain transparency and accountability.

Accounting and Budgeting Services directly supports VDEM’s mission by ensuring that financial resources are managed efficiently, transparently, and in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. By providing timely, accurate, and comprehensive financial oversight, this service area enhances the agency’s ability to respond to emergencies, manage disaster funding, and coordinate statewide preparedness and recovery efforts.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Code of Virginia § 44-146.18 (Virginia Department of Emergency Management – powers and duties)


• State Financial Management Act (COV §§ 2.2-2000 et seq.)


• Applicable federal grant regulations and guidelines

Budgeting and Financial Planning:

• Development and monitoring of the biennial budget, multi-year projections, and resource allocation plans.

Accounting and Reporting:

• Maintenance of accounting records, preparation of financial statements, and reconciliation of all agency accounts.

Grant and Fund Management:

• Administration of federal, state, and private grant programs, ensuring compliance, tracking, and timely disbursement.

Audit and Compliance:

• Support for internal and external audits, ensuring adherence to statutory, regulatory, and grant-specific requirements.

Training and Technical Assistance:

• Guidance to program staff on financial procedures, grant reporting, and budgeting systems.

Process Improvement:

• Implementation of streamlined digital workflows and automation to increase efficiency, reduce processing time, and minimize errors.

Funding for Accounting and Budgeting Services is primarily supported through state general funds and direct cost recoveries from federal grants. This service area enables efficient financial management, timely reimbursement to localities and state agencies, and ensures the agency remains compliant with all applicable laws and regulations while maintaining operational readiness.

The Public Information Services service area provides VDEM with strategic communication, public information, and media relations support to ensure timely, accurate, and actionable information is delivered to the public, media, localities, state agencies, and partners before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. This service area strengthens public awareness, supports coordinated messaging, and ensures that VDEM maintains transparency and credibility in all emergency management operations.

Key functions include:

• Development and dissemination of public information materials, including press releases, social media content, emergency alerts, and educational campaigns.


• Coordination of internal and external messaging during disaster events to ensure consistency and accuracy.


• Management of media relations, press briefings, and public messaging during active incidents and major emergencies.


• Development of public education and outreach programs to increase preparedness and resilience within communities.


• Support for agency leadership in crisis communications and stakeholder engagement.


• Maintenance of communication platforms and tools to enable rapid, multi-channel information dissemination.

Public Information Services directly supports VDEM’s mission by ensuring that accurate and timely information reaches all stakeholders, helping communities make informed decisions before, during, and after emergencies. Effective communication strengthens public confidence, improves coordination with partners, and enhances the Commonwealth’s overall emergency management capabilities.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Code of Virginia § 44-146.18 (Virginia Department of Emergency Management – powers and duties)


• Executive Order 41 (2019) – direction of the Virginia Emergency Support Team and public communication responsibilities)


• Applicable federal guidance on emergency communications, including FEMA risk communication standards

Crisis and Incident Communication:

• Rapid development and dissemination of public messaging during emergencies, including alerts, advisories, and official statements.

Media Relations and Outreach:

• Coordination with media outlets, management of press briefings, and support for agency leadership in external communications.

Public Education Campaigns:

• Development of educational materials, training programs, and community outreach initiatives to promote preparedness, mitigation, and response awareness.

Social Media and Digital Communication:

• Use of social media platforms, websites, and digital tools to provide real-time updates and expand reach to diverse audiences.

Monitoring and Feedback:

• Tracking media coverage, public response, and community feedback to improve messaging and public engagement strategies.

Funding for Public Information Services is primarily supported through state general funds and supplemented as needed by federal preparedness or grant funding. Resources support staff, technology, media monitoring, educational materials, and communication platforms to ensure timely and accurate information delivery during all-hazard events.

The Telecommunications service area provides VDEM with secure, reliable, and interoperable communications infrastructure and services to support emergency management operations across the Commonwealth. This service area ensures that the agency can coordinate effectively with local, state, federal, and private-sector partners during all phases of emergencies and disasters, including response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.

Key functions include:

• Management and maintenance of radio, telephone, satellite, and data communication systems across all VDEM facilities, including the Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC), Disaster Logistics Support and Coordination Center (LSCC), and regional offices.


• Provision of interoperable communications capabilities to support coordination among local, state, federal, and volunteer agencies during incidents.


• Implementation and oversight of secure networks for the transmission of sensitive and operational information.


• Maintenance of the agency’s mobile communication units and emergency response vehicles to ensure continuity of operations in the field.


• Technical support, training, and guidance to staff and partners to ensure effective use of communication systems.


• Coordination with the Virginia Wireless E-911 Program and other statewide communication initiatives to maintain operational consistency and compliance.

Telecommunications services directly support VDEM’s mission by providing the technological backbone for coordination, situational awareness, and decision-making during emergencies. Reliable communications enable timely response, effective coordination among multiple stakeholders, and uninterrupted operations during high-stakes incidents.

Authority for this service area is provided under:

• Code of Virginia §44-146.18 (Virginia Department of Emergency Management – powers and duties)


• Statewide communications policies and standards under the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)


• Federal communications regulations and interoperability standards

• Infrastructure Management: Oversight and maintenance of fixed and mobile radio, telephone, satellite, and data communication systems.


• Interoperability and Coordination: Ensuring seamless communication between local, state, federal, and private-sector partners during emergencies.


• Field Communication Support: Provision and maintenance of communication capabilities in mobile units, emergency response vehicles, and field offices.


• Security and Compliance: Implementation of secure communication networks to protect sensitive information and maintain compliance with federal and state standards.


• Training and Technical Assistance: Support and guidance to staff and partners to optimize communication system use during planning, exercises, and real-world events.


• System Upgrades and Innovation: Integration of modern communication technologies to enhance operational efficiency, situational awareness, and rapid coordination.

Funding for Telecommunications Services is primarily supported through state general funds and federal grants, including Homeland Security and preparedness funding. These funds support staff, system maintenance, mobile communications, technology upgrades, and interoperability initiatives to ensure VDEM’s continuous operational capability during all-hazard events.