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
[email protected] - County Exercises
-
Androscoggin
Chad Arris, Deputy Director
(207) 754-7583
[email protected]Aroostook
Primary:
Derrick Ouellette
Deputy Director
207-493-4328
[email protected]
Secondary:
Darren Woods
Director
207-493-4328
[email protected]Cumberland
Matt Yeaton, Preparedness Coordinator
207-892-6785
[email protected]Franklin
Amanda Simoneau, Director
(207) 491-5959
[email protected]Hancock
Andrew Sankey, Director
(207) 667-8126
[email protected]Kennebec
Training and Exercise
[email protected]Knox
Candice Richards, Director
(207) 594-5155
[email protected]Lincoln
Training and Exercise
[email protected]Oxford
Deputy Director/Training & Exercises
207-743-6336
[email protected]Penobscot
Christopher Fox, Director
207-945-4750
[email protected]Piscataquis
Deb Hamlin, Director
(207) 564-8660
[email protected]Sagadahoc
Philip Davis, Director
(207)-443-8210
[email protected]Somerset
Training and Exercise
(207) 474-6788
[email protected]Waldo
Dale Rowley, Director
207-338-3870
[email protected]Washington
Primary:
Christine Day, Deputy Director
(207) 255-3931
[email protected]Secondary:
Lisa M. Hanscom, Director
(207) 271-7755
[email protected]York
Scott Gagne, Training and Response Coordinator
207-324-1578
[email protected]
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