Mission/Vision: The primary purpose of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is to provide coordination to assist local emergency managers and first responders to provide for the protection of life and property.

Guided by West Virginia State Code and the West Virginia Emergency Operations Plan, the agency is responsible for disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and mitigation. The effort to lessen the impact disasters have on people's lives and property, through damage prevention and flood insurance, is mitigation.

During state emergencies, this division activates the State Emergency Operations Center to respond to and coordinate materials and assistance needed by local emergency services to protect lives and property. Local emergency services offices provide direct assistance to citizens. WVDHSEM provides assistance to local emergency services offices.

The agency also coordinates the recovery efforts after the disaster with all responsible government agencies. After a federal disaster declaration, the WVDHSEM works closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to administer assistance programs.  

Biography: Governor Joe Manchin appointed Jimmy Gianato , Director of Emergency Services for the State of West Virginia , in September 2005.  In his capacity as Director, Mr. Gianato has operational and planning responsibility for the state’s response to all emergency and disaster operations and consequence management for incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction and terrorism.  During federal disasters, he serves as the Governor’s State Coordinating Officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  Before assuming his present duties, Mr. Gianato has previously been involved in emergency response for over 30 years.  He has served as a firefighter, EMT, and law-enforcement official.  He received training in Incident Command with the National Incident Management System.  He is a certified fire, EMS and law enforcement instructor and has successfully managed numerous nationally declared disasters in McDowell County and has been deployed to other parts of the state to assist with disaster efforts.  He has been a presenter for several organizations and conferences.  For example, the 2005 All Hazards Forum, NENA, the American Business Club, and the Association of Public Safety Officials Association and the West Virginia Coal Symposium, just to name a few.  He intends to continue to attend training and learn of new and better ways to improve the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in the State of West Virginia.