DURANT, OK -- Every year, the American Radio Relay League puts on a field day for amateur radio operators nationwide, and in Canada.

Nationwide, amateur radio operators are there if a natural disaster occurs. They are the eyes and ears for what is going on around them, if all communication is lost. For a local Durant chapter, not only do it's members enjoy the responsibility, but they see it as a fun hobby.

Each year they particiapte in Field Day, a day amateur radio operators nationwide and in Canada spend testing their signals, seeing who they are able to reach in case an emergency situation occurs.

"If somebody hears you, they'll come back, they'll give their call sign and you'll copy their call sign and their class, and we'll give our call sign and our class, and they'll say 'good day, thank you for field day' and they'll move on and we'll move on," said amateur radio operator, David Barkley.

"It may be a little bit more sophisticated, but there will always be just plain old radio," said amateur radio operator, Jack Skinner.

Jack Skinner has been an amateur radio operator for 22 years.

"I enjoy it. It's a great hobby. It's one that no matter who you are, a movie star, rock star, big time poitician, when they push the button on that mike they're the same as every body else," said Skinner.

Skinner is retired and says he gets on his radio for at least 5 hours a day, seven days a week.
While most counties have emergency management operators set up, these men say they will always be there just in case they are needed.