Radio Communications In a major Situation

[paddy]

Can't get around physics.
Best bet would be, get a ham license.
$15 for life (need to renew for free every 10 years).
Get 2m/70cm handhelds that run on AA batteries on full power (5 watts).
Solar setup to charge batteries.

Put a high gain antenna up as far as you can get it.
Supply with proper antenna wire (LMR-400).
High antenna beats wattage everyday.

If in range of a repeater you will be good to go until the repeater backup power supply quits.
Repeater will give you huge range, 10-30 miles but you will be sharing with many others in SHTF situation.
After that it will be handheld to handheld where external antenna placed as high as possible will give best results.
I can talk five miles with no problem with a good external antenna at both ends.
Handheld to handheld with no external antenna, 0.5 to 1.0 miles unless you climb a tree.

Digital options like D-Star could give clearer communications but generally no greater distance.

Everyone you want to communicate with needs to get a ham license and practice until you know how to use the radios and assure they cover the area you need.

Wait until SHTF and your communications plan will fail.

Icom IC-T70A with AA battery tray is a good solid dual band radio.
You can get it modified to also cover FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies.

https://www.gigaparts.com/icom-ic-t70a-hd.html

[METL]

Holy crap! Over 8 years old....