1200 miles with Handheld CB radio

[Paul]

I'm a bit anti ham.
The cost of the gear and the licence which lifts you onto "the radar" are two reasons.
I like Citizens Band because if you get something going NOW, you can build up a local network of contacts (preppers or not) within the usual operating range of up to 10 miles.

In an emergency that is about the limit that people will travel by foot, bike, or even horseback.
Being able to talk county to county is good but if you need fast help, think local.

Citizens band is ideal for this. It's also cheap, easy to setup, and anyone can use it (useful if the licenced operator is incapacitated or just plain dead).