In many Maine communities and counties, emergency management is supported by volunteer teams that have received special training to support first responders and perform important response functions. Most of these teams receive basic training as Community Emergency Response Teams, and then may specialize in a particular type of response such as amateur radio or animal and pet care.
The team list is just a sampling of the active teams around the state. If you are interested in finding and joining a team, or in starting on up in your area, contact: County Emergency Management Agencies
Maine Teams
Hancock County Emergency Animal Response Team (on Facebook)
The Hancock Emergency Animal Response Team (HEART) primary function to support the community during an emergency.
Hancock County Emergency Communications Team
The Hancock Emergency Management Agency is the point of contact for this ARES/RACES team.
Knox County ARES/RACES-CERT
The Knox County ARES/RACES-CERT is made up of volunteer Amateur Radio Operators from across Knox County. The team is a joint operation between Knox County EMA and the Penobscot Bay Amateur Radio Club. You can also find them on Facebook.
Lincoln County ARES/RACES
LINCARES is Amateur Radio Emergency Service/RACES serving Lincoln County.
OXCART: Oxford County Animal Response Team (on Facebook)
OXCART's motto is "Helping People, Helping Animals."
Oxford County Communications Team
The Oxford County ARES Group meets on the first Monday of each month.
Penobscot County Maine Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Communications Team
We are a registered volunteer organization that provides emergency communications via Amateur Radio to served agencies here within Penobscot County and also to surrounding counties on a mutual aid basis.
Somerset County ARES/EMCOMM
The Somerset Emergency Management Agency is the point of contact for this ARES/RACES team.
If your team has a web presence, is not listed here and you would like it to be, please contact us.
Resources
Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES)
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
FEMA: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when first responders are not immediately available to help and assist in community preparedness.
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service/RACES
RACES stands for "Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service," a protocol created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission. Many government agencies across the country train their Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) volunteers using the RACES protocol. The volunteers serve their respective jurisdictions pursuant to guidelines and mandates established by local emergency management officials.