Local amateur radio operators will join with their counterparts from around the country this weekend for the annual "Field Day."
Joe March, Indiana spokesman for American Radio Relay League, says local amateur radio operators will participate in the 24-hour test of their emergency communication systems.
"If the power goes out, if there are tornadoes that come through, if there's an earthquake, if there's a huge hazmat event, cell towers will go out or become overloaded, there will be a loss of electricity, there will be no internet, no means to communicate under normal circumstances," says March.
He says there are more than 15,000 Amateur Radio operators in Indiana.
Ham radio operators serve as trained weather spotters for the National Weather Service and county emergency operations centers when severe storms threaten the area.
Approximately 45,000 Amateur Radio operators across the country participated in last year‘s event.