Response

Response begins as soon as a disaster is detected or threatens. It involves mobilizing and positioning emergency equipment; getting people out of danger; providing needed food, water, shelter and medical services; and bringing damaged services and systems back on line. Local responders, government agencies and private organizations take action. Sometimes the destruction goes beyond local and state capabilities. That's when federal help is needed as well.

When the state and local governments are overwhelmed by a disaster, they make a request for federal aid through a Presidential disaster or emergency declaration. Typically, federal assistance is financial. However, the federal government may be asked to mobilize resources from any number of federal agencies to participate in the response.

In the Town of Scarborough, the initial response is conducted by the various Public Safety departments of the town. The Scarborough Emergency Management Agency gets involved when an incident requires additional resources from other local, state, or federal agencies.

If You Require Emergency Assistance

Call 911

from any address in Scarborough

Effective January 24, 2001 the E-911 interface was completed in the Town of Scarborough. The Scarborough Public Safety Communications Center is one of approximately 50 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP's) statewide. The enhanced 911 system is designed so that any phone number can be coded by the telephone company so that when 911 is dialed from that phone it is automatically routed to the proper public safety agency that serves that address. That means that no matter what exchange your phone number begins with (883, 885, 774, 799, 839, etc.) you can dial 911 from any address in Scarborough and the call will arrive in our dispatch center.

In addition to routing the calls to the right agency, the software will display address and phone number information to assist the emergency dispatchers send you the assistance you need in the shortest time possible.

Please remember that 911 is for Police, Fire, and Rescue emergencies only.

Please do not use 911 for routine business calls, directions, or other non-emergency requests. Those calls should be directed to the following non-emergency business phone numbers: