Let me make a suggestion that's just slightly off topic. Get your amateur radio license. I promise you it isnt that difficult, and you would have a more reliable, or at least more likely, audience on the other end in case something dire occured, whether it was an individual incident, such as running out of gasoline, or something more pervasive. See arrl.org for how to proceed. KI4OBM Or send me a private email and I will help you. Otherwise, there is nothing wrong with the advice previously posted regarding the CB's. And I have nothing against these other modes of communication, by the way. Greg