I wonder if QRP would be something?

https://hackaday.com/2016/03/08/how-low-can-you-go-the-world...

also

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WSPR_(amateur_radio_software) https://wsjt.sourceforge.io/wsjtx.html

plus the super simple "Fireball QRP transmitter"

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-DX/73-magazine/73-...

We need a communication method that even fools can use.

That way, we might end up with enough nodes such that mesh networking comes within reach.

Isn't one of the problems is that to get appreciable range you have to have a fairly obvious antenna setup?

What do you think amateur radio does? Why do you think that broadcasting your location, and that you're looking to get information from somewhere other than the approved sources will end up in anything other than tragedy? What information do you think could reliably be provided with amateur radio in a situation like this?