GRAYSON CO, TX- One group of people has been working for nearly 20 years to communicate information to authorities and residents during bad weather and emergencies. This week is amateur radio operator week...and operators say they're happy to share information that can help keep the public safe. Rita Kotey has the story.

Gordon Duke says he loves being on the radio. This amateur radio operator is one of 3-hundred and fifty in Grayson County that spend time on the airwaves talking with law enforcement and with emergency personnel during bad weather .

"Communication is really important sometime. How many people are hurt, what kind of injuries do they have what do you need, where do you need," Gordon Duke said.

Radio Emergency Coordinator Wilmer Kinsey says the operators are non professionals that use the radio as an emergency communication system. The operators also work as weather spotters.

"We all meet on one frequency and everybody knows what that will be and then we assign people to go to different areas in the county and report back to us," Kinsey said.

The operators can talk with other operators from across the state and the U-S as well.

“This is Gordon and we are in Sherman, Texas. We are down here in North Texas where it’s hot," Duke said.

This week the radio operators are being recognized for nearly 18 years of service to Grayson County.

"That lets people know that we are out there and what we are doing and it also may get somebody else interested in being involved. That’s the thing getting people involved in it, "Duke said.

Operators say although they work behind the scenes they hope they are making a big impact when it comes to keeping Grayson County residents safe.

"This is a great group of people and we are glad to be able to give something back," Kinsey said.

"It makes me feel good. That's what we like to do we like to help people out when we can," Duke said.