Running a transmitter without an antenna is a great way to ruin it.

I thought of that but if it can’t handle that for a second then I can’t rely on it for prepping purposes.

But to clarify, for the purposes of amateur radio, "emergency traffic" is defined as:

> essential communication needs in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available

(47 CFR § 97.403)

That is, just because your communications are related to an ongoing emergency doesn't automatically give you the right to transmit without a license.

You can use any means necessary if life or property are in imminent danger and only if you're already licensed. The section of Part 97 everyone quotes applies to amateur stations only (like the rest of Part 97).

So unless there's another part of the FCC rules that allows this I'm unaware of, even emergency communications made by unlicensed users are illegal.

If life is on the line, worrying about the FCC is pretty low on the priority list.

In my country if I had the means to avoid an emergency but did not utilize it I can be held liable.