Day One of Exercise Vigilant Guard Across Maine

Various state agencies from all across Maine are engaging in a training exercise today, so don't be alarmed, it's only a test.

Within the exercise scenario, Maine is faced with a simulated major winter storm, 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 in different parts of the state.

The State Emergency Operations Center 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.

The exercise is part of a series of training events aimed at improving command, control and operational relationships with local, state and regional civilian and military emergency response partners. The main focus is inter-agency 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.

Today's major simulated events will happen in Brunswick, Maine at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. A response to a simulated structure collapse will begin there. This response will continue around the clock through Thursday. A number of multi-jurisdictional teams will rotate through the site.

At the University of Maine - Orono campus there will be a hazardous materials threat.

In Calais there will be a hazardous materials accident that will involve cross-border response.

And in Augusta there will be a security incident that will bring responders to the State House complex.

Again, this is only a training exercise, so please do not be alarmed.