I'm a bit more newfangled. HAM doesn't travel so well unless you invest heavily in a portable kit.
I keep an Inmarsat Mini-M and an Iridium phone at the ready on basic accounts. They saved many butts during Katrina (especially the Iridium) when I was able to put them in the hands of normal people doing rescue and response work and say "here, use this".
You'll laugh but I've also done 9600 baud data sessions on an emergency basis on the Iridium. A bit flaky but when you absolutely need packet access, it works.
You could be on the air for 150 to 200 bucks. I spent about $350 on a good HT and about $500 on a portable HF/UHF/VHF rig. All of them fit in my backpack with my laptop and can be on the air in no time.
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