[setquk]

There was worse on 7/7/2005 in London due to the bombings. Nearly all the providers fell flat due to overload including land lines and mobile phones. Also public transport was hosed. I walked 11 miles home in the end.

FM radio was about the only thing working. Thank you cheap nokia!

I have an iPhone now which is devoid of an FM radio but carry a multiband VHF transceiver with me most of the time now as that can pick up FM and do comms on 2m (I have an amateur radio license as well).

[kkarakk]

any links on how to get started in the hobby easily?

[setquk]

If you're in the UK: https://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/

If you're in the US: http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

Anywhere else, check your local society. It's quite easy to get into and not particularly expensive. Less than $100 including a cheap handheld radio as a starting point.