Amateur Radio Operators Prepare for Emergencies in Granby

Tools

Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

By CBS 3 Springfield

Story Published: Jun 27, 2009 at 6:05 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 27, 2009 at 6:05 PM EST

Dozens of amateur radio operators tuned in for the annual Hampden County Radio Association Field Day in Granby.

The 24-hour event promotes emergency communications preparedness.

Thousands of people across the country set up temporary communications centers and then they all take to the air at the same time.

The event is practice for a national disaster drill.

It simulates a massive emergency, like Hurricane Katrina, that puts conventional forms of communication out of commission.

"In the event of an actual emergency, we can get antennas and towers up as quickly as possible and have auxiliary communications in the event civil communications go down," said event organizer Richard Stewart.

The official event kicked off on Saturday at 2pm and it goes until 2pm Sunday.

Wednesday, Jul 1 at 8:09 PM Bill Scagliarini wrote ...

Thank you for covering the ham radio field day. I understand you are the only local network that would air such an important event.you are now my station of choice. Thanks again Bill

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

CBS 3 Springfield and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

More Good Stuff

Weather

Icon
Current Temp 49.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Calm
Humidity : 74 %
Pressure : 1017.9 mb
More Weather

Weather

More Weather

On Demand

Stock Quotes

WHYN NewsTalk 560
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.