I am also a Ham, and have an old handheld and a mobile in my truck. With the local repeater, i can get some pretty amazing range with both.
Unfortunately if in the event of a Nuclear SHTF situation, i would think the pulse would destroy any repeater operation. For this, i have a backup Eton Crank radio in storage in a metal garbage can for EMP protection.

peace
al

"...you're not really allowed to USE a scanner in NY..."

I'll add that to the list of why NOT visit NYC...

I believe that an EMP will travel through metal. I hope that it doesn't have to come to that though.

It is real nice up there. A tad bit cold for my liking, but beautiful country. What is the range for one of those HAM radio's anyway. I know it matters on power, lets say a decent handheld version.

with all thats happening in the world today, i doesnt hurt to be a little prepared. "prepare for the worst, and hope for the best".

this comment amused me: "And besides, who would waste a perfectly good nuke on Vancouver?" It's obvious you dont know canada well...
I would comment further, but i won't side track this topic.

as for ham radio range? it all depends on the radio, its' wattage, and the placement of the repeater being used. if the repeater is on a mountaintop, you should hit anyone within your field of vision. i personally in the past have hit friends in their cars 100 miles away through repeater service. Ham also offers an autopatch feature, which a ham can use a public 'phone' through the repeater. everyone on the repeater can hear your conversation, but the local call is free(at least it was when i was a club member).
there is a network in BC called IPARN. A group of hams are 'linking' a bunch of repeaters, so a user with the right codes can piggyback a signal along a network from the BC interior to vancouver. i havent used IPARN, but 10 years ago i knew one of the guys organising it.
then there is something new called D-Star. I know little about it, but ive been told it allows WORLD wide communications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-STAR

my suggestion is look online for ham clubs in you area and inquire about licensing. you can learn a lot from the 'active' hams. get licensed, its cheap and easy.

best of luck.
peace
al

...in a car. You CAN use a scanner on FOOT, or in the home in NY.

As everyone said - just get your ham license - easy enough, and frankly, very useful in an emergency

"...get your ham license..."

Correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't you only need the ham license to transmit? If all you want to do is listen, seems to me that you could buy a radio of any kind. And, in an emergency, you could probably even get away with transmitting. That said, I have been planning on getting the "no code," or whatever they are calling that nowadays, license for several years, just keep putting it off...

As I said, in New York State, it is illegal to have a radio that can receive police frequencies in your vehicle (even technically locked in the trunk) unless you have either a ham license or a letter from the local head LEO

OBG,

FCC rules allow emergency communications without a ham license in a real emergency. So technically you could buy a ham radio of any sort and listen all you liked and transmit when there was a declared emergency.

This idea is a bit weak when you consider that most emergency ham operators practice frequently to maintain their skills in this service area.

A new fellow jumping on the airwaves in an emergency may not be the best approach.

Getting a ham license is so easy now that there really is no excuse not to do so. You can take online practice tests until you essentially know the questions by heart...take a locally administered test and not only be legal but if you volunteer with a local RACES or ARES group you can be helpful too.

Check out qrz.com for practice tests.

http://www.qrz.com/testing.html

The ARRL will list local clubs and tests in your area.

http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml

The examiner will likely know a number of service groups in your area too.

Ham radio is a very good option to have.

I only got 40%