About York County EMA
29 municipalities, one mission: Make sure York County is ready for whatever comes next
Most people don't think about emergency management until something goes wrong. We think about it every day so we are ready to support your municipality, your neighbors, and your first responders when it does.
OUR MISSION
What York County EMA is here to do
To lessen the effects of a disaster on the lives and property of residents, municipalities, and businesses of York County through coordination and training on the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
York County EMA is a government agency based in Alfred, Maine. We work with all 29 municipalities across the county, coordinating with local emergency management directors and acting as the link between your municipality, the state of Maine, and federal agencies like FEMA and the National Weather Service.
THE BASICS
What is Emergency Management?
Before anything happens: PREPAREDNESS
During an incident: RESPONSE
After it ends: RECOVERY
So the next storm does less damage: MITIGATION
Each phase builds on the last, forming a continuous cycle that keeps communities safer over time.
Preparedness
Planning, training, and alerting systems built before an emergency strikes
Response
Coordinating personnel, equipment, and communications during an active incident
Recovery
Helping residents and municipalities access disaster assistance and rebuild after an event
Mitigation
Reducing future risk through infrastructure improvements, grants, and hazard planning
DAY TO DAY
What We Actually Do
Emergency Alerts
We manage the Rave platform used by municipalities across York County to send text, email, and phone alerts directly to residents and visitors during emergencies
Training and Exercises
We host training sessions for emergency managers, first responders, and public officials, testing plans through tabletop discussions and functional exercises
Disaster Recovery
After major storms, we help municipalities and residents navigate FEMA's public and individual assistance programs to recover funds for damages
Hazard Mitigation
We help municipalities apply for FEMA mitigation grants (generators, infrastructure protection, flood resilience) to reduce the cost of future disasters
Special Teams
We support and deploy specialized response teams, including drone operations, hazardous materials response, tactical dispatch, and emergency communications
Coastal Resilience
We are leading a countywide initiative to restore York County's beaches and dunes to FEMA Category G standards, protecting coastlines for future generations
HOW WE WORK
Partnerships at Every Level
When your municipality needs support during a disaster, it comes through a network of relationships York County EMA has spent years building at the local, state, and federal level.
29 Municipalities
We work directly with local emergency management directors in every municipality in York County, supporting their planning and response year-round
State of Maine
We coordinate with Maine Emergency Management Agency on planning, exercises, and grant administration, serving as the county's link to state resources
Federal Agencies
We work with FEMA on disaster declarations, hazard mitigation grants, and recovery programs, and with the National Weather Service on hazard communication and our StormReady designation
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
The Laws That Guide Our Work
These are the two foundational laws that establish the authority and structure for emergency management in Maine and at the federal level.
Maine Title 37-B
The state law that governs emergency management in Maine, establishing the authority and responsibilities of county and municipal emergency management agencies
Link: https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/37-b/title37-Bch13sec0.html
The Stafford Act
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act is the federal law that authorizes FEMA disaster declarations, public assistance programs, and individual recovery funds
Link: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-2977/pdf/COMPS-2977.pdf
