CB's are a good idea, but they are short range. Would work for locals, but it could carry a long ways via a chain, kind of like gossip. Ham would go around the world. In the past you had to learn Morris Code to get a ham radio liscense. I think they did away with that requirement now. Not a bad idea to get started now and be prepared. If about 50 million gun owners decided to get a machine gun liscense, maybe they would also get the message.