
ALT Image of text: Cumberland County EMA and the Emergency Communications Team are participating in a hurricane response exercise TODAY from 12-8pm. There may be increased traffic on the EMA radio channels and amateur radio bands. Don’t worry, there is no real emergency! Any concerns, please email [email protected]. Thank you!

ALT Image of text Meet the Local Emergency Management Directors. National Emergency Management Awareness Month August 2026. Collage of various pictures of some of our Local Emergency Management Directors. CCEMA logo

ALT Image of text: Every disaster starts and ends locally. Long before federal or state assistance arrives, and long after the news cameras leave, local communities and first responders are on the ground facing the initial impact and guiding the long road to recovery. Each of our 28 municipalities has a designated Local Emergency Management Director (LEMD), and a handful are pictured here. They work hand-in-hand with CCEMA and many other partners, serving as the connection with municipal functions like the police and fire departments, public works, municipal leadership, public health, health & human services, and other municipal departments. Our LEMDs support planning efforts, training and exercise, partnership building, mitigation projects, public outreach, and everything else emergency management in their communities, in addition to leading incident response. Our LEMDs are the heart of emergency management in Cumberland County.

ALT Image of text Meet the Teams. National Emergency Management Awareness Month August 2026. Wilderness Rescue Team. CCEMA and WRT logo

ALT The Wilderness Rescue Team (WRT) is a non-profit rural search and rescue team in Cumberland County. This all-volunteer organization is available 24/7 to provide search, technical rescue, and medical services in wilderness areas. WRT is a member of the Maine Association for Search and Rescue (MASAR) and is affiliated with Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency to provide wilderness search and rescue services to Cumberland County. The team trains in multiple search and rescue functions such as ground search, lost person behavior, basic life support skills, backcountry rescue, and high/low angle rescue. All members are certified as a Search Team Member through MASAR, and may advance as a Technical Specialist or Medical Specialist. For more info, amazing photos, or to become a member, visit https://www.wildernessrescue.org/ or check out their Facebook page!

ALT Image of text Meet the Team. Emergency Communications Team. CCEMA and ECT logo. Collage of various volunteers operating radios and radio antennas

ALT Image of text: The Emergency Communications Team (ECT) is a dedicated group of amateur radio operators and communication specialists committed to providing reliable communication support during emergencies and disasters. This team plays a vital role in ensuring that information flows seamlessly, even when traditional communication infrastructure fails. ECT members practice their skills often, while on the road or from their home, the CCEMA bunker, State parks, mountain tops, and more! Connections are made with other operators in Maine, other states, or even other countries. During disasters, ECT members provide support by connecting Emergency Operations Centers, shelters, distribution centers, recovery centers, or any other active facility. For more info about ECT, ham radio, or to get involved, visit http://www.ws1sm.com/ or check out their Facebook page!

ALT Image of text Meet the Teams. Cumberland County Animal Response Team. CCEMA and CCART logo. Collage of various photos of volunteers, including goats and a puppy

ALT The Cumberland County Animal Response Team (CCART) is a dedicated group of volunteers committed to ensuring the welfare of animals during emergencies and disasters. CCART is responsible for setting up temporary pet shelters, in association with human shelters, during disaster situations where individuals may need to leave their home, ensuring that no one gets left behind. Volunteers are also available to supplement local municipal and animal control resources for animal related emergencies, which sometimes includes rescuing a herd of goats off the highway! You may also see them at community events, spreading the word about pet preparedness. For more info on CCART, pet preparedness, or to volunteer, visit https://linktr.ee/ccartme, email [email protected], or check out their Facebook page!

ALT Image of text Meet the Teams. Community Emergency Response Team. CCEMA and CERT logo. Collage of various photos of CERT members

ALT Image of text: The Cumberland County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a volunteer group dedicated to assisting others during emergencies and enhancing the resiliency of the community through preparedness, education, training, and response efforts. The goal of CERT is to train and empower community members to assist themselves and each other during disasters, as well as create a pool of volunteers willing and able to help the greater population when local resources are strained. CERT members may help in shelters, conduct damage assessments, provide support in our Emergency Operations Center, distribute needed supplies to the community, or complete one of the many other tasks necessary to support a community during a disaster situation. For more info on CERT, disaster preparedness, or to get involved, visit https://linktr.ee/CCCERT or email [email protected]

ALT Image of text Meet the Team. National Emergency Management Awareness Month August 2026. Jaime Erlandson, Preparedness Coordinator. “What I love most about working in emergency management, even after 20 years in the field and in the Emergency Operations Center, is that the work directly impacts people when they need it most.” CCEMA logo

ALT Image of text Meet the Team. National Emergency Management Awareness Month August 2026. Chris Wheeler, LEPC Coordinator. "What I love about my job is how quickly things change. We can go from managing emergency shelters today to preparing for a hurricane tomorrow. You have to stay flexible, but that's exactly what makes it so exciting." CCEMA logo

ALT Image of text Meet the Team. National Emergency Management Awareness Month August 2026. Brittany O'Neil, Deputy Director. “The best part of emergency management is solving problems. I love helping our communities and residents of Cumberland County by breaking down barriers and making a bad day easier.” CCEMA logo























