Training and Exercises
YCEMA hosts trainings and exercises for all 29 municipalities in York County, first responders, and other agencies. Trainings and exercises help to prepare agencies for various emergency situations, incidents, and disasters.
The Trainings below are organized into the following section:
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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training 1 upcoming course starting in Fall 2026
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NIMS/ICS Trainings (includes G-191) 1 upcoming course in March 2026
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Shelter Trainings 1 upcoming course in March 2026
Stay tuned for further updates over the next few months.
For more information or questions, please contact Scott Gagne (Training & Response Coordinator) at srgagne@yorkcountymaine.gov
Upcoming CERT Training
CERT Basic Training - Next Offering in Fall 2026
Ready to join York County CERT? Complete our Volunteer Interest Form today to start the approval process and secure your spot in our Fall 2026 cohort.
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form here - https://forms.gle/jZz3VyGtKx1Eok6n9
Quick Facts:
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What: 21-hour emergency response training plus final assessment (8 sessions)
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When: Fall 2026 - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6-9pm for 4 weeks
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Where: Alfred, ME
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: None
What You'll Learn: Emergency management principles • Fire suppression • Search and rescue • Shelter operations • First aid • Utility control • Emergency communications • And more
Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in community preparedness - parents, teachers, community leaders, neighborhood watch members, faith communities, and civic organizations
Not Ready to Volunteer Yet? Interested in the training but want to learn more first? Contact us at ema@yorkcountymaine.gov or 207-324-1578.
Upcoming NIMS/ICS Trainings
G-402 NIMS Overview for Senior Officials
Description: The purpose of this course is to familiarize Senior Officials (executives, elected and appointed officials, city/county managers, agency administrators, etc.) with their role in supporting incident management within the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
Target Audience/Selection Criteria: Executives and senior officials of towns, cities, and counties, including elected officials, city/county managers, agency administrators, etc.
Please note that volunteers are allowed to take this course. However, for those who have already completed ICS 100 or higher, we do not recommend taking this course as it covers the same information.
Pre-Requisites: None
Date: Tuesday, March 10th
Time: 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: Virtual (Zoom). The link will be emailed to registrants a week in advance.
Other Information: This course is offered free of charge.
Point of Contact: For questions about this course, contact Scott Gagne at srgagne@yorkcountymaine.gov or 207-324-1578.
Register here: https://forms.gle/by4qz6ufCBtrjNpN7
Upcoming Shelter Trainings
York County EMA Shelter Operations Course
Description: This introductory course will cover best practices for disaster sheltering including:
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Pre-disaster planning
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Health, security, and safety considerations
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Staffing and support resources needed to open shelters
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Documentation and feeding considerations
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Equipment considerations
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Demobilization, and more!
Please note that this course is a regularly occurring course and has been previously offered by York County EMA multiple times in the past year.
Target Audience: This is an introductory course intended for any staff or volunteers who will be planning for and/or working in a shelter following a disaster. Anyone from York County is welcome to join.
Pre-Requisites: None
Date: Thursday, March 5th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: York County EMA, 149 Jordan Springs Rd. Alfred, ME
Point of Contact: For questions about this course, contact Scott Gagne at srgagne@yorkcountymaine.gov or 207-324-1578.
Register here: https://forms.gle/XwxeKhnvPdyBJxVS8