February 12, 2026 — Aroostook County Emergency Management officials spent a full and productive day Thursday meeting with several key groups to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities across the region. The day began with the county’s volunteer Incident Management Assistance Team, a group of trained professionals who stand ready to assist communities when local resources are overwhelmed. During the morning session, members reviewed the county’s drone team capabilities with Chief Pilot Derrick Ouellette, highlighting how unmanned aircraft systems can support damage assessment, situational awareness, and disaster response operations. In the afternoon, local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) directors from communities throughout the county gathered both in person and virtually to discuss the federal Public Assistance Program, which provides funding to help municipalities recover after disasters. The group also engaged in detailed discussions regarding local emergency operations centers and strategies for effective coordination during incidents. The day concluded with a virtual meeting of the county’s Critical Incident Stress Management team, which meets quarterly to train and enhance its ability to support first responders coping with traumatic events. Officials emphasized that the strength of emergency management in Aroostook County lies in collaboration among dedicated volunteers and professionals, whose combined expertise and partnerships ensure communities remain prepared for any challenge.