Look folks, if you haven't already added GMRS radios to your prepper equipment, do so ASAP. This at least could provide some local area comms - which it could be valuable to have that as an option.
You can go to the FCC website and apply for the license online (no test is required). Cost is $70, is good for 10 years, and extends to household family members. The turn-around on approval is same day to next day. So you can get this done fast.
The thing that's valuable about GMRS over, say, CB radio, is it is capable of using repeaters and there are lots of GMRS repeaters around the 48 states.
These repeaters can greatly extend the reach of ability to converse with others in the radius of the repeater. Even if you have a lowly 2 watt hand-held GMRS radio, if you are able to reach the repeater with it, you'll be able to converse with anyone else that can reach the repeater. I'm within ten miles line of sight to a repeater and use a hand-held radio to reach it. I can converse with people that are like 40 miles out from the repeater where they're using 40 to 50 watt radios and automotive or house mounted antennas. My transmissions on that repeater are very clear, high quality for the recipients.
Can get a BTech GMRS-v1 hand-held for about $55 and they make another GMRS unit, BTECH GMRS-50X1, that is 50 watt and is around $200. Kenwood and other companies have products in GMRS space too (check YouTube for reviews and product comparisons).
When you get one, find a repeater, and get online, start inquiring if there is anyone else that are very recently new to GMRS - chances are they might have arrived for similar reasons (given what is transpiring). Get to know them (carefully) - never get into political talk over radio transmissions. Just use it to do useful comms. People yak about all kinds of things over GMRS (it's basic orientation, though, is a mission of civic emergency use so if anyone needs to break in with an emergency situation, everyone needs to get off to allow for that use - and be ready to assist if can in some way).
Here are the pertinent links on FCC and getting GMRS license:
FCC Info - General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
BTW, there are nation-wide GMRS groups that have networked comms sessions (about once a week at an appointed time - checkout mygmrs.com). There is also an entrepreneur company that makes a device (about $155) that establishes a repeater in the home via an Internet access point. It adds your mini, local repeater device to a network of such repeaters across the Internet. Those in this Internet-extended network can then do radio comms with each other (as though they were all on one grand terrestrial repeater). Naturally this network of comms goes a way if the Internet access goes away, but while the Internet is available, then GMRS users can try to establish a nation-wide community: The new age low cost Coast to Coast GMRS repeater
the repeater capability of GMRS is what makes it vastly more worthwhile than CB or FRS
by getting onto a repeater I'm conversing with folks that are within about a 50 mile radius of said repeater (naturally a lot of them have much better gear than I do - am using a lowly hand-held but my comms with everyone else on the repeater are very clear, high quality)
I understand this stuff (HAM radio General license)... As far as repeaters for GMRS... There are very very few compared to the thousands already in place in almost every singe town, village and city in this country already operating every day right now. Its a well established network ten thousand times larger than GMRS. I can talk to people 300 or more miles away using repeaters and a hand held radio... and I live in the bottom of a canyon in the rocky mountains. 2 meter is vastly superior and a mature and well developed system. But if GMRS is your thing...thats great.
it's something anyone can basically get in about a day or two - and they can get radios for their family members to start using
have had HAM users say that get a GMRS for their household because they can never get their family members to take the tech test
for that reason it makes perfect sense for lots of folk
but agree, graduating to being able to use 2 meter is the thing to head toward - as you say, vastly more repeaters
Yes.. for your description of use (family, close friends and short distance) GMRS makes sense... It beats two tin cans and some string for sure. If you haven't already, consider picking up an inexpensive 2 meter handheld and start playing with it... you seem to be the sort of person that would probably enjoy it and be able to help others understanding radio communications if the world falls apart. Cheers patriot.