Washington Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized

Publication Date: September 2004

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Coverage: Washington

Abstract:

The governor and the director of the state of Washington's Emergency Management Division are authorized to carry out state programs, coordinate with local governments and serve as liaison with federal and other state governments. The emergency management council conducts an annual state emergency preparedness assessment. Special accounts have been established in the state treasury for natural disasters; in addition, funds in these accounts may be used for national security preparedness. The statutory code contains provisions related to search and rescue and pipeline safety. If the governor is unable to fulfill the duties of the office, legislative leaders are to assume the role, or legislators may elect an acting governor. The location of the capital may be moved if necessary.

This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant.