This is the first endeavor to present a finite element approach to predict free oscillation and transient characteristics of magneto-electro-elastic (MEE) composite rectangular and elliptical plates resting on the visco-Pasternak medium in a hygro-thermal environment subjected to blast load. The variation of electric and magnetic potentials along the thickness direction of the MEE plate is determined via the Maxwell equation and magneto-electric boundary condition. The governing equations of motion for the MEE plate are obtained using refined higher-order shear plate theory and Hamilton's principle. Stiffness matrices, mass matrices, damping matrices, and force vectors of the plate are derived using a four-node quadrilateral element with eight degrees of freedom per node approximated using C1-order non-conforming Hermite and Lagrange functions. In addition, the Navier close-form solutions for rectangular plates with simply supported boundary conditions are used as a useful comparison tool for the numerical solutions. Dynamic response results of plates were obtained using Newmark's direct integration written by Matlab's programming. The accuracy of the method is verified through numerical comparison with confidence statements. The results show that the applied magnetic and electric potential highly inspires the transient responses. These results can be used in vibration control studies of structures and structures subjected to explosive or low-velocity impact loads.