[kanbankaren]

For emergency comms(remember, emergency services provided by the state don't monitor the ham bands, so can't call them), a $20 ham radio would work or just carry FRS radios.

FCC does allow use of a ham radio in a real emergency without a license.

[ChrisMarshallNY]

I was thinking more along the lines of an organized S&R team.

They would probably need some robust, non-problematic kit that could work in any environment.

[kanbankaren]

> They would probably need some robust, non-problematic kit that could work in any environment.

Nothing is more robust than ham radio at 144/420 MHz. Even first responders use frequencies adjacent to this and has the same RF propagation characteristics.

For S&R teams, you could apply for LMR license. It is valid for 10 years.