For the purposes of this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
(a) "Emergency services" means the preparation for and the carrying out of all emergency functions, other than functions for which military forces are primarily responsible, to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters caused by enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action, or by fire, flood, earthquake or other natural or manmade causes. These functions include, without limitation, fire-fighting services, police services, medical and health services, rescue, engineering, air-raid warning services, communications, radiological, chemical and other special weapons defense, evacuation of persons from stricken areas, emergency welfare service, emergency transportation, existing or properly assigned functions of plant protection, temporary restoration of public utility services and other functions related to civilian protection, together with all other activities necessary or incidental to the preparation for and carrying out of the foregoing functions. Disaster includes the imminent threat of disaster as well as its occurrence and any power or authority exercisable on account of a disaster may be exercised during the period when there is an imminent threat thereof.
(b) "Local organization for emergency services" means an organization created in accordance with the provisions of West Virginia Code Article 15-5 by State or local authority to perform local emergency service functions.
(c) "Mobile support unit" means an organization for emergency services created in accordance with the provisions of West Virginia Code Article 15-5 by State or local authority to be dispatched by the Governor to supplement local organizations for emergency services in a stricken area.
(d) "Political subdivision" means any county or municipal corporation in the State. (1976 Code Sec. 7-2)