(a) Because of the existing and increasing possibility of the occurrence of disasters or emergencies of unprecedented size and destructiveness resulting from enemy attack, sabotage, or other hostile action, or from fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural causes, and in order to insure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with such disasters or emergencies, and generally to provide for the common defense and to protect the public peace, health, and safety, and to preserve the lives and property of the people of the state, it is hereby found and declared to be necessary:

(1) To create a State Emergency Management Agency, and to authorize the creation of local organizations for emergency management in the political subdivisions of the state.

(2) To confer upon the Governor and upon the governing bodies of the political subdivisions of the state the emergency powers provided in this article.

(3) To provide for the rendering of mutual aid among the political subdivisions of the state, and with other states, and with the federal government with respect to the carrying out of emergency management functions.

(4) To authorize the establishment of such organizations and the taking of such steps as are necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions of this article.

(b) It is further declared to be the purpose of this article 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 such disaster or emergency.

(c) It is further declared to be the purpose of this article and policy of the State of Alabama to assist and encourage emergency management and emergency preparedness activities on the part of the political subdivisions of the state by authorizing the State of Alabama to make grants, as funds are appropriated for such specific purpose, to any political subdivision of the state in amounts not to exceed the amounts expended, or to be expended, for personnel and administrative costs by such political subdivisions for emergency management and emergency preparedness.