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.govAroostook
Primary:
Derrick Ouellette
Deputy Director
207-493-4328
derrick@aroostookema.com
Secondary:
Darren Woods
Director
207-493-4328
darren@aroostookema.comCumberland
Matt Yeaton, Preparedness Coordinator
207-892-6785
EMA_Training_Group@cumberlandcounty.orgFranklin
Amanda Simoneau, Director
(207) 491-5959
asimoneau@franklincountymaine.govHancock
Andrew Sankey, Director
(207) 667-8126
ema@hancockcountymaine.govKennebec
Training and Exercise
kcema@knnebec.govKnox
Candice Richards, Director
(207) 594-5155
crichards@knoxcountymaine.govLincoln
Training and Exercise
ema@lincounty.meOxford
Deputy Director/Training & Exercises
207-743-6336
ema@oxfordcounty.orgPenobscot
Christopher Fox, Director
207-945-4750
penobscoteoc@penobscot-county.netPiscataquis
Deb Hamlin, Director
(207) 564-8660
dhamlin@piscataquis.usSagadahoc
Philip Davis, Director
(207)-443-8210
scema@sagadahoccountyme.govSomerset
Training and Exercise
(207) 474-6788
emergencymanagement@somersetcounty-me.orgWaldo
Dale Rowley, Director
207-338-3870
emadirector@waldocountyme.govWashington
Primary:
Christine Day, Deputy Director
(207) 255-3931
christine.day@washingtoncomaineema.govSecondary:
Lisa M. Hanscom, Director
(207) 271-7755
lisa.hanscom@washingtoncomaineema.govYork
Scott Gagne, Training and Response Coordinator
207-324-1578
srgagne@yorkcountymaine.gov
Levels 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
Exploring Tabletop Exercises.pdf