Freedom of Information Requests

NOTICE: WVEMD DOES NOT receive 911 calls or have access to 911 call records. If you need information regarding a 911 call, please contact the county or jurisdiction where the call was placed.

Additionally, WVEMD does not have access to law enforcement records. To obtain law enforcement records, please contact the county or jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

WVEMD Freedom of Information Act Request

POLICY

It is the policy of the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) to implement the FOIA uniformly and consistently and to provide maximum allowable disclosure of agency records upon request by any individual.

The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

PROCEDURES

All requests for information from the WVEMD must be via the FOIA process and submitted in writing by mail or fax. Upon receipt of a request satisfying the requirements of the FOIA, records may be disclosed unless they are protected by one or more of the FOIA exemptions or exclusions in §29B-1-4 and are not appropriate for discretionary disclosure under any other Federal or State Law. Requests will be processed within the time limits defined by the FOIA.

The Director of WVEMD is the official custodian of records for the Division. Persons may make official requests for records available under FOIA from the Emergency Management Division by:

Requesting with reasonable specificity the information being sought to help locate the information you are seeking.
Indicating whether you are requesting copies or an in-person inspection of records.*
*Note: West Virginia State law allows for the charging of reasonable fees to cover copying costs.
WVEMD DOES NOT RECEIVE 911 CALLS, have access to 911 recordings or transcripts of 911 calls. If you need information regarding a 911 call, please contact the county or jurisdiction where the call was placed.
Additionally, WVEMD DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS. To obtain law enforcement records, please contact the county or jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

Submitting a written request:

Custodian of Records
West Virginia Emergency Management Division
1700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, 6th Floor
Charleston, WV 25314
Fax: 304-766-2605

Upon receipt of a FOIA request, WVEMD will respond in one of the following ways:

(1) Furnish copies of the requested information;

(2) Advise the person making the request of the time and place at which he or she may inspect and copy the materials; or

(3) Deny the request stating in writing the reasons for such denial. A denial shall indicate that the responsibility of the custodian of any public records or public body to produce the requested records or documents is at an end, and shall afford the person requesting them the opportunity to institute proceedings for injunctive or declaratory relief in the circuit court in the county where the public record is kept.