Amateur Radio Field Day demonstrates area's emergency responses

Makayla Boswell | USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

During major catastrophes, like tornadoes, earthquakes and fires, communication is often one of the first things to go.

Amateur radios — or ham radios —- are used to communicate all over the country when power lines and cell phone towers are down.

Len Grice, public information officer for the Memphis Area American Radio Relay League and Delta Amateur Radio Club, said amateur radios become the "telephone lines" during emergencies.

“Ham operators are in every hospital in Memphis,” Grice said. “When disasters happen, we will be ready.”

Amateur Radio Field Day is a national event where thousands of amateur radio operators, clubs and emergency service organizations get together and demonstrate emergency responses. For the Mid-South area, Germantown will host the annual field day at C.O. Franklin Park on June 24.

The 24-hour event begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. and is sponsored by the Germantown Fire Department.

Howard Thompson, captain of technical services and safety officer for the the department, said the field day is an “open house” for amateur radio.

“Amateur radio operators practice for loss of power,” Thompson said. “At the field day, people will see emergency operation practices and drills for when power goes out.”

Thompson said amateur radios are used in Memphis during the Fourth of July, Christmas Parade and the St. Jude Marathon and Trike-A-Thon.

During the event, public safety organizations like American Red Cross, Tennessee Task Force One and FedEx will demonstrate how they react in emergencies and how they use ham operators.

Thompson said anyone who is interested in amateur radio can get involved for as little as $35.

“To get a license, you must purchase a textbook and take a test,” Thompson said. “Some radios are $35 and you can talk locally. I know some people who have invested $100,000 and they talk to people all around the world.”