(KNZA)--Local ham radio operators and members of the Hiawatha-based Kansas National Guard unit will participate in a joint emergency communications drill in Hiawatha this weekend.

Both civilian and military communication centers will operate side-by-side on the west side of the Walmart parking lot on Saturday to practice radio skills that might be needed in an emergency.

On the civilian side, volunteers from the Hiawatha and Falls City Amateur Radio Clubs, along with 35,000 other licensed amateurs throughout North America and the Pacific, will unplug from the grid and demonstrate that they can conduct emergency radio communication operations continuously for 24 hours. They do that by passing along messages to other amateurs in a friendly competition for points. They will operate from 1 o’clock Saturday afternoon until 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon.

On the military side, radio operators with the Kansas National Guard’s 2nd Battalion 130th Field Artillery will similarly operate long range radio equipment to practice field artillery communications. They will be at Wal-Mart from 9 to 4 on Saturday and will set up a portable Standardized Integrated Command Post System.

Sergeant First Class Travis McClain, a native of Horton, will act as liaison between the civilian and military communication centers. He is both an FCC licensed ham operator and an experienced military communications operator. The Hiawatha Chamber of Commerce helped plan the event.

The public is invited to drop by, ask questions, take pictures, and even help with making radio contacts.