You're absolutely right, WesleyH, but if you have a working cellphone (as I did during the experience I related in the original post) you should use that over public safety radio frequencies wherever possible.

Where I was, and where I live (different places), the transition to digital radio for public safety is very slow, or hasn't begun.

I'm not in a place where it makes sense for me to buy a satellite radio. I'm still thinking about buying an InReach but I haven't done it yet.