(Canadians: https://krisconstable.com/getting-your-ham-radio-licence-in-canada/)

I've been in two states of emergency -- ham radio is nerdy otherwise, but in an emergency you become a hero helping people find/communicate with loved ones, help emergency services communicate with each other when their radios are down. Everyone should get their license, in which case you get it for life and everything about it is free except the hardware.

2) LoRa

( https://krisconstable.com/bc-mesh-using-LoRa-devices/ now over 100 nodes in B.C. since I wrote this!)

Find and communicate with your friends. Send sats. No cell or internet infrastructure required

3) Handcrank & Solar for AM/FM/NOAA public broadcast

Basic: https://amzn.to/4eStkmC

A little more: https://amzn.to/4bBqS1d

I also like SSB & shortwave: https://amzn.to/3VSUh14