Usually, if any phone lines are operative, calls are routed out of the disaster area, rather than in, if I understand correctly.

Ham radio depends on relay towers, doesn't it? Aren't they subject to the same crippling effects that cell phone towers are?

After Katrina, sat phones were the ONLY things that worked for communications. Lt. Gen. Honoré said the only plans that Louisiana bureaucrats had made for that type of disaster included no communications problems! And every generator he saw was sitting at ground level in areas seriously prone to flooding.

I don't have any idea what would work for you under extreme conditions except a very long string with an empty can at each end, or a note in a bottle.

Sue