ALFRED — Picture this: Ice covers everything, and there’s 3 feet of snow on the ground. The howling winds have finally stopped, on this fifth day of weather misery. Power is out in 80 percent of York County – which means not only are many homeowners without heat and the ability to cook foods, but some gas stations also don’t have generators to pump fuel for emergency and snow removal vehicles. Shelters are filling up and more are needed.

This was the imagined scenario on Wednesday, but it was only a drill – an exercise to test the mettle of those whose job it is to cope with emergencies. York County Emergency Management Agency put out the call, and 22 of the 29 municipalities in the county took part, along with a host of volunteers, and EMA and county staff.

In the EMA’s Emergency Operations Center in Alfred, the phones rang constantly during the drill, with calls from municipal EMA directors reporting what they were coping with and what their needs were.

Five miles away, at Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport, Central Maine Power, which works handin hand with York County EMA when there are power emergencies, was acting out its role as well. And the American Red Cross, National Weather Service and Maine Emergency Management Agency were all in contact, too.

Such storms aren’t uncommon here, as those who lived in Maine during the 1998 ice storm can attest. And York County EMA director Art Cleaves said the National Weather Service is predicting more weather events involving ice this year.

He said the drill was designed to see how well the system works, and what might be able to be made better.

“I’m pleased with the response at the local level,” said Cleaves. “The local directors played it out to take advantage of teaching points.”

“It went very well,” said Assistant EMA Director Blain Cote.

As the phones rang inside the Emergency Operations Center, volunteer Steve Jacobsen was working on the animal angle of things.

As evidenced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, people were reluctant to leave their homes in that emergency because they didn’t want to leave their pets behind, he pointed out. And even though most shelters accept pets these days, Jacobsen is working with EMA on establishing a team to help assist with pets and larger animals.

Jacobsen said those who are interested in volunteering for the team may call EMA Public Information Officer Megan Arsenault at 324-1578.

In all, about 60 volunteers and staff took part in Wednesday’s exercise.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.

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