In time of a life and death emergency, it is legal to use any radio to signal for help. You will likely get away with no license, but there is a certain skill set needed to use it effectively. Why not get a Ham license now? The test isn't that hard, and you can build relationships with other communicators before it's actually needed. I'll warn you of one thing though, no matter when you get on the air, if you don't have a license, generally no other operator will be willing to communicate with you.
Just as owning a firearm, you can shoot it right out of the box, but it's of limited value if you never trained with it. Better to train before the big event(s), and going to the firing range is fun.
Same with Ham radio.
http://arrl.org/licensing-education-training
All test questions and answers are published on line.
He gets my "No Shit Sherlock" reply for stating the obvious.
Who is this guy again and why would any listen to him anyway. If he stopped posting would anyone at all wonder where he went or what insight he might offer that we are missing out on?
When we gave China all our non proprietary product manufacturing, "we" gave them much of the profit. With that profit they moved deeper in to the supply chain by buying semi-conductor manufacturing. With that profit they are moving into buying semiconductor fab equipment manufacturers. How does this happen? The same way as they got started. Paying above market value making it hard for sellers to justify not selling to them. They are executing on a plan started years ago and other than their continuing need to steal IP, because they can't invent shit, they are getting more and more proficient.
Here's the kicker, it's our fault for enabling them, not because of profit greedy corporations, but because greedy consumers have to own one of everything their neighbors have, and then another when new models come out and so on. No one could afford this if it were all American made, so corporations looked to dirt poor countries to exploit them on our behalf.
Next time you think you "need" something wait until you have enough saved to buy American. By then you will either have lost interest, or you will be a proud owner of something you wont be inclined to replace on a whim to keep up with the Joneses.
He said "metaphor".