Within the exercise scenario, Maine is faced with a simulated major winter storm (ice storm similar to 1998 followed by a blizzard and frigid temperatures), a major structural collapse, several mass casualty and hazardous materials incidents, and security threats, as well as other various scenarios, all happening at the same time.
The State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be open throughout the exercise, using the scenario as an opportunity to train on emergency procedures. Representatives from most state agencies, several federal agencies and the American Red Cross, coordinate their activities in the EOC.
Today's major simulated events:
* Brunswick: at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, response to a simulated structure collapse begins. This response will continue around the clock through Thursday. A number of multi-jurisdictional teams will rotate through the site. * Orono: The University of Maine campus will be the site of a hazardous materials threat * Calais: a hazardous materials accident will involve cross-border response * Augusta: a security incident will bring responders to the State House complex (late afternoon into evening).
At any of these sites, and others over the next few days, the public may see emergency or military vehicles, or groups of uniformed responders. Exercise vehicles will not be using lights or sirens.
##About the Exercise:
The exercise is part of a series of training events sponsored by the U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau aimed at improving command, control and operational relationships with local, state and regional civilian and military emergency response partners. The main focus is interagency coordination in the event of domestic emergencies and catastrophic events.
The agencies will be pushed to use their knowledge and expertise accessing storm damages, hazmat identification, decontamination, search and rescue, patient extraction, triage, and other emergency-response measures. Just as in real life, these fictional events will create consequences that will require additional emergency intervention.
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