I'm not sure which license you need for HF bands, but even as a non-HAM type myself, I've long thought that Elecraft's KX-1 rig has great potential as a Morse code-only, portable emergency radio. It runs on 6AA's, I believe. Generally speaking, with my limited understanding of radio, I believe that you would never be out of communications range if you had this HF rig. With a decent antenna, this could communicate around the world, couldn't it?