West Virginia Code 15-5-9 – Mutual aid agreements
(a) The director of each local organization for emergency services may, in collaborating with other public and private agencies within this state, develop or cause to be developed mutual aid agreements for reciprocal aid and assistance in case of disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted. The agreements shall be made in conformity with the state plan and program for emergency services and, in time of emergency, each local organization shall render assistance in accordance with the state plan or the agreements.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 15-5-9
- Disaster: means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural, or terrorist, or man-made cause, including weapons of mass destruction, fire, flood, earthquake, wind, snow, storm, chemical or oil spill or other water or soil contamination, epidemic, air contamination, blight, drought, infestation, or other public calamity requiring emergency action. See West Virginia Code 15-5-2
- Emergency services: means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, to protect, respond, and to prevent, detect, deter, and mitigate, to minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters or other events caused by flooding, terrorism, enemy attack, sabotage, or other natural or other man-made causes. See West Virginia Code 15-5-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) The director of each local organization may, subject to the approval of the Governor, enter into mutual aid agreements with emergency service and civil defense agencies or organizations in other states for reciprocal aid and assistance in case of disaster too great to be dealt with unassisted.
c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the director of each local organization may, regardless of the existence of a federally declared emergency or a state emergency declared by the Governor, or the Legislature, enter into mutual aid agreements with emergency services, civil defense agencies, and organizations of bordering counties in contiguous states for day-to-day mutual aid support for fire and emergency medical services.