(20 ILCS 3305/2) (from Ch. 127, par. 1052)

Sec. 2.

Policy and Purposes.

(a) Because of the possibility
of the occurrence of disasters of unprecedented size and destructiveness
resulting from the explosion in this or in neighboring states of atomic or
other means from without or by means of sabotage or other disloyal actions
within, or from fire, flood, earthquake, telecommunications failure, or
other natural or technological causes,
and in order to insure that this State will be prepared to and will adequately
deal with any disasters, preserve the lives and property of the people
of this State and protect the public peace, health, and safety in the event
of a disaster, it is found and declared to be necessary:

(1) To create an Illinois Emergency Management Agency and to authorize emergency

management programs within the political subdivisions of the State.

(2) To confer upon the Governor and upon the principal executive officer of the

political subdivisions of the State the powers provided herein.

(3) To provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions and

taxing districts of the State and with other states and with respect to the carrying out of an emergency management program.

(b) It is further declared to be the purpose of this Act and
the policy of the State that all emergency management programs of this State be
coordinated to the maximum extent with the comparable programs of the
federal government, including its various departments and agencies, of other
states and localities and private agencies of every type, to the end that
the most effective preparation and use may be made of the nation's
resources and facilities for dealing with any disaster that may occur.

(Source: P.A. 87-168; 88-606, eff. 1-1-95.)