Exercise

The Maine Emergency Management Agency's Exercise Program, aligned with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), is designed to enhance the preparedness and resilience of our communities. The program helps state agencies, tribal, county, local governments, along with first responders, volunteers and elected officials to test and improve their emergency response plans through realistic exercises. By simulating incidents such as natural disasters and public safety threats, we identify strengths, address gaps, and build stronger coordination across all levels of government and organizations, ensuring a safer and more prepared state.
 
This readiness is implemented through a building block process of seminars, workshops, tabletop exercises, games, drills, functional exercises, and full scale exercises.
 
Want to hold an exercise but aren't sure where to begin? Contact one of the following personnel based on your location or affiliation:

State Exercises

Deborah Lord, State Exercise Officer
memapreparedness@maine.gov

County Exercises

Androscoggin

Chad Arris, Deputy Director 
(207) 754-7583  
carris@androscoggincountymaine.gov  

Aroostook

Primary: 
Derrick Ouellette            
Deputy Director 
207-493-4328 
derrick@aroostookema.com 
 
Secondary: 
Darren Woods 
Director 
207-493-4328 
darren@aroostookema.com

Cumberland

Matt Yeaton, Preparedness Coordinator 
207-892-6785 
EMA_Training_Group@cumberlandcounty.org

Franklin

Amanda Simoneau, Director 
(207) 491-5959  
asimoneau@franklincountymaine.gov  

Hancock

Andrew Sankey, Director 
(207) 667-8126 
ema@hancockcountymaine.gov 

Kennebec

Training and Exercise 
kcema@knnebec.gov

Knox

Candice Richards, Director 
(207) 594-5155 
crichards@knoxcountymaine.gov

Lincoln

Training and Exercise 
ema@lincounty.me 

Oxford

Deputy Director/Training & Exercises 
207-743-6336 
ema@oxfordcounty.org 

Penobscot

Christopher Fox, Director 
207-945-4750 
penobscoteoc@penobscot-county.net 

Piscataquis

Deb Hamlin, Director 
(207) 564-8660  
dhamlin@piscataquis.us 

Sagadahoc

Philip Davis, Director 
(207)-443-8210
scema@sagadahoccountyme.gov 

Somerset

Training and Exercise
(207) 474-6788 
emergencymanagement@somersetcounty-me.org 

Waldo

Dale Rowley, Director 
207-338-3870 
emadirector@waldocountyme.gov

Washington

Primary: 
Christine Day, Deputy Director 
(207) 255-3931 
christine.day@washingtoncomaineema.gov  

Secondary: 
Lisa M. Hanscom, Director 
(207) 271-7755  
lisa.hanscom@washingtoncomaineema.gov  

York

Scott Gagne, Training and Response Coordinator 
207-324-1578
srgagne@yorkcountymaine.gov 

Exercise CycleLevels of Exercise

  • Discussion based exercises focus on conversation and decision-making. Participants discuss their roles, responsibilities, and responses without executing actions in real-time.
    • Seminar: Lecture based in the form of presentations by Subject Matter Expert’s with limited feedback or interaction from participants.
    • Workshop: Lectures, presentations, panel or case-study discussions facilitated by a workshop facilitator/presenter.
    • Tabletop: Scenario based where players apply their knowledge and skills to discuss and work through the problems. Discussion is led by a facilitator using a Situation Manual or Placemat, presentation, EEG and Feedback Forms.
  • Operational based exercises involve the simulation of actual response activities. Participants actively carry out response actions to test operational capabilities.
    • Drill: Coordinated, supervised activity to validate a specific function or capability in a single agency/organization.
    • Functional: Events are projected through a realistic exercise scenario with controllers typically utilizing a MSEL with injects driving simulated play without deploying actual resources or personnel
    • Full Scale: Simulates a real-life emergency scenario as closely as possible. Involves the deployment of resources, personnel, and equipment. A MSEL must be created to drive players actions.

Resources and Curriculum

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Overview

HSEEP Preparedness Toolkit

Exploring Tabletop Exercises.pdf

    Exercises in a box