Today, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad declared June 19-25 as Amateur Radio Week in Iowa in a special proclamation signing ceremony at the capitol to celebrate the efforts of radio amateurs across the state and around the nation.

The proclamation comes days before amateur radio operators will take to the airwaves around the United States in a 24-hour exhibition of amateur radio called Field Day. Field Day is a publicly-held training exercise that helps radio amateurs prepare for emergencies. Skilled work and planning is required to select radio equipment, frequencies, and antennas to facilitate operating under less-than-ideal conditions. During Field Day, operators set up in remote areas, at shopping malls, or even in their own backyards, and get on the air using generators or battery power. Radio operators then try to contact as many other Field Day stations as possible.

In the Des Moines metro, Field Day will be held at Camp Dodge in Johnston. At the event, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with area amateur radio operators and see for themselves what the amateur radio hobby is about. Showing the newest digital, satellite, high-frequency technologies and even historical Morse code, radio operators from across the nation will be holding public demonstrations of their emergency communications abilities. The public will even have opportunities to make contacts over the air. Setup and antenna-raising will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 with official activities beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing non-stop for 24 hours until 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 26.

Recent disasters punctuate the importance of amateur radio: amateur radio operators supported operations in the aftermath of the recent EF-5 tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo.; the recent tornado super-outbreaks in the southeast; and the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan. Closer to home, the first reports of the devastating tornado that hit Parkersburg in 2008 was delivered to the National Weather Service by amateur radio.

While most think of amateur radio as a hobby, FEMA Director Craig Fugate recently called amateur radio “the ultimate backup” and “our last line of defense” when public safety radio systems and cellular telephone systems fail during emergencies.

Visit the DMRAA Field Day website for maps and more information.

Proclamation text

WHEREAS, the State recognizes the services amateur radio operators provide to our many emergency response organizations, including FEMA, DHS, and Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management; and

WHEREAS, these same individuals have further demonstrated their value in public assistance by providing free radio communications for local parades, public fundraising events, fairs and other charitable public events; and

WHEREAS, the State of Iowa recognizes and appreciates the diligence of these “hams” who also serve as weather spotters in the Skywarn program of the National Weather Service; and

WHEREAS, amateur radio once again proved its undisputed relevance in the modern world in 2005 by providing emergency communications when other systems failed in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and again in 2011 in severe weather outbreaks in Joplin, MO., and the southeast, and the earthquake and tsunami catastrophe in Japan; and

WHEREAS, these amateur radio services are provided wholly uncompensated; and

WHEREAS, the ARRL is the leading organization for amateur radio in the USA; and

WHEREAS, the ARRL Field Day exercise will take place on June 25-26 and is a 24-hour emergency encampment exercise and demonstration of the Radio Amateur’s skills and readiness to provide self-supporting communications even in the fields without further infrastructure.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim that all Iowans join me in recognizing AMATEUR RADIO WEEK.