Twenty amateur radio operators spread across Williamson County on Saturday, Oct. 3, testing whether they could keep emergency communications alive during a simulated cyberattack.
They handled 58 simulated emergencies.
The drill scenario assumed a coordinated cyberattack had knocked out internet service, cell networks and 911 dispatch, leaving residents with no way to call for help. The exercise was the 2026 Simulated Emergency Test run by the Williamson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WCARES), a Franklin-based volunteer group that provides backup communications for the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency. The county EMA said on X that volunteers deployed to five recreation centers and the county's Emergency Operations Center, relaying messages by radio while all other networks were treated as down.
Amateur radio operates on independent frequencies and does not rely on commercial infrastructure, which is why emergency planners train with it as a fallback when digital systems fail.
The drill was part of the American Radio Relay League's (ARRL) nationwide Simulated Emergency Test, an annual exercise that puts amateur radio groups through real-time emergency scenarios. WCARES ran its local version from 8 to 11:30 a.m., with Williamson County Parks and Recreation providing the recreation center sites.
WCARES Emergency Coordinator Jim "Hoop" Hooper, who has led the group since January 2025, oversaw the volunteer deployment. The organization requires its members to hold amateur radio licenses and complete Federal Emergency Management Agency Incident Command System courses as well as the National Weather Service's SKYWARN severe-weather training.
After the drill wrapped up, participants gathered at the Emergency Operations Center for what emergency responders call a "hot wash," a debrief to review what worked and what needed improvement. According to a recap posted on the WCARES website, the group judged the exercise a success overall.
Cool, misty weather greeted the volunteers that morning, but teams still drew curious visitors at the recreation center sites, interacting with members of the public and Parks and Recreation staff.
WCARES membership is open to licensed amateur radio operators living in Williamson County or adjoining counties including Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Marshall, Maury and Rutherford. Residents interested in learning more can visit wcares.org.
