Public safety answering points across the country provide emergency assistance every minute of the day. When those centers experience an emergency of their own, they rely on the Telecommunicator Emergency Response Taskforce, known as TERT.

TERT was created to support public safety communications centers during natural or man-made disasters when staffing becomes one of the greatest operational challenges. The program establishes a team of trained telecommunicators who can be deployed to assist affected agencies during the incident and throughout the recovery period.

Recognizing the importance of this mission, Maine NENA has developed a formally trained and recognized TERT team to serve agencies across the state.

On January 21, 2015, Maine NENA President Tammy Barker and Maine Emergency Management Agency Director Bruce Fitzgerald signed a Memorandum of Understanding that defines the procedures and responsibilities for the use of TERT during disaster operations. Through this agreement, Maine NENA provides and coordinates qualified personnel, while MEMA serves as the lead state agency responsible for resource coordination and supporting counties in requesting specialized assistance, including telecommunicator deployments within Maine and through interstate EMAC requests.