Comment by vvanders

> In the case of a real emergency, the FCC allows you to use a Ham radio without a license.

While that's close there's an important distinction that it's only in the case where you have no other viable options for communications and life or property is in danger[1].

However if you don't have a license you can't practice so it's really better to spend the tiny effort to get licensed :).

[1] https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=336ab7469b6...