To lessen the effects of disaster on the lives and property of the people of the State through leadership, coordination and support in the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery

For additional information, follow this link: http://maine.gov/mema

During an emergency, many people come together to help others ‘weather the storm.’ These could include police and fire departments, public works, non-profit organizations, the Red Cross, elected officials, state and county emergency management agencies, and you. Citizens can be critical resources when it comes to community emergency response. First responders are not an unlimited resource, and they may not always be available to help you or your neighbors during a disaster.

Learn more about how your local officials are planning for emergencies and how you can get involved. For more information follow the link: http://www.maine.gov/mema/prepare/community/index.shtml

In Maine, emergency management is coordinated regionally by Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs) in each of our 16 Counties. County Directors are appointed by their respective County Commissioners, and funded in part by County, and in part by federal funds provided through MEMA.

For a directory of County Emergency Management Agencies, follow this link: http://www.maine.gov/mema/about/mema_county.shtml

For Every Day

• Business Preparedness: A Checklist
• Community Preparedness: The Municipal Role
  
• Is Your Town Storm Ready?
  
• Planning for People with Disabilities
  
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
  
• Community Preparedness: Many Pieces with a Single Goal

For the Season

• Hurricane!
  
• Hurricane: Watch, Warning and Advisory Criteria
  
• Summer Storms: Watch, Warning and Advisory Criteria
• Lightning: The Science
  
  

Citizen Corps was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.

Citizen Corps mission is accomplished through a national network of state, local, and tribal Citizen Corps Councils. These Councils build on community strengths to implement the Citizen Corps preparedness programs and carry out a local strategy to involve government, community leaders, and citizens in all-hazards preparedness and resilience. Citizen Corps asks you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety.

For more information, follow the link: http://www.citizencorps.gov/about/

Maine citizens can sign up to receive news, weather alerts, and emergency information from MEMA by e-mail and text messages on your cell phone. It is very easy to sign up for these updates and alerts, and to change your choices after you have signed up.

To sign up, follow this link: http://www.maine.gov/mema/mema_subscribe.shtml

211 Maine is a comprehensive statewide directory of over 8,000 health and human services available in Maine. The toll free 2-1-1 hotline connects callers to trained call specialists who can help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Finding the answers to health and human services questions and locating resources is as quick and easy as dialing 2-1-1 or visiting www.211maine.org

Emergency management in New England is a partnership. This partnership consists of a broad spectrum of public, private and non-profit organizations.

In any major emergency or disaster, local emergency management officials may need to call on resources beyond county, state or even national boundaries. By maintaining a strong emergency management partnership, we ensure that no one will face disaster alone.

For a directory of partners, follow this link:  http://www.maine.gov/mema/about/mema_partners.shtml