Amateur radio operators provide a vital communications link in the event of widespread breakdown of mainstream networks, such as internet, television, and cell phones. (Photo provided by Hamilton County Emergency Management)
Posted By: The Reporter October 14, 2025
By MONICA PETERSON
For The Reporter
Federally licensed amateur radio operators from across Hamilton County were called to respond to a statewide emergency communications exercise on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), working in tandem with the Hamilton County Emergency Management (HCEM) Communications Group, used VHF ham radio repeaters and the HCEM public safety repeater to conduct field surveys of property damage following a scenario of severe storm damage across the state.
Radio networks were established from a field “Incident Command Center” in Noblesville’s Forest Park, where the operators were dispatched to virtual neighborhoods to provide a preliminary damage assessment in accordance with FEMA’s primary damage assessment guidelines. Each station reported findings back to net control.
Photo provided by Hamilton County Emergency Management
Preliminary damage assessment provides real-time valuable information for follow-up teams from NWS, FEMA and state response agencies to focus evaluation that brings the full array of support to those impacted by severe storms.
The ARES Section (state) Emergency Test is conducted annually in October. This year, the exercise occurred during the HCEM Communications Group “Techfest” training at Forest Park, enabling both emergency communications groups to train together.
For information about Amateur Radio and ARES, go to arrl.org/ares. Find out more about the Hamilton County Emergency Management Communications Group at HamiltonCounty.in.gov/908/RACES.
Monica Peterson is the Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator at the Hamilton County Emergency Management.
