Indiana "ham" radio operators this weekend will set up and operate emergency communication systems to simulate how to respond to a natural disaster.
American Radio Relay League Spokesperson Joe March says field exercises will take place at 22 sites throughout Indiana.
He says the public is invited to participate in parts of the 24-hour, off the electric grid field exercise.
"We will have a Morse code set up where people can send there initials in Morse code and we'll give them a certificate of achievement to do that," says March.
He says amateur radio operators are often the first to provide critical information and observations to responders in crisis situations when cell phone towers are out and power lines down cut Internet access.