DOVER — A group of amateur radio operators gathered at the Kent County Emergency Operations Center on Jan. 28 to participate in Winter Field Day, a worldwide communications event.

The purpose was to practice emergency transmissions and increase emergency preparedness in winter environments.

When dangerous storms threaten or there are extended electrical outages, these radio operators, known as “hams,” head for their equipment. They can communicate with first responders and other operators in homes or mobile units to report information like downed trees or utility poles, accidents or other incidents requiring assistance.

The Winter Field Day rules require that each operator keep a log of the contacts they make. The logs are then submitted to the event organizer, points are tallied, and a winner is announced and receives bragging rights.

In 2022, the Winter Field Day Association processed over 2,500 logs from stations around the world.