§ 21-P:34 — Purpose

Because of the possibility of the occurrence of natural and human-caused disasters resulting from fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, prolonged power outages, disruption or contamination of the food or water supply, degradation of critical facilities and vital systems, disruption of communication systems, or other natural, technological or human causes, including acts of terrorism, and in order that the state of New Hampshire will be adequately prepared to cope with such disasters; and, generally, in order to preserve the lives and the property of the people of the state, a state division of emergency services, communications, and management is hereby created under the direction of the director of the division of homeland security and emergency management. The emergency management powers provided in this subdivision are conferred upon the governor and upon other executive heads of governing bodies of the state; the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the state is authorized; and provision is made for the rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the state and between this and other states and to cooperate with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency management functions. It is further declared to be the purpose of this subdivision and the policy of the state that all emergency management functions of this state be coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable functions of the federal government including its various departments and agencies, of other states and localities, and of private agencies of every type, to the end that the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation's manpower, resources, and facilities for dealing with any disaster or incident of terrorism that may occur.

Legislative History

2002, 257:7. 2003, 319:106. 2004, 171:2. 2008, 361:2, eff. July 11, 2008.