Be advised: When I was in the Marines, during some exercises Radio Battalion would try to jam, spoof, or pretend to be the intended unit and send bad info.
I do not disagree communications will be important. I only question how much accurate information will be out there. How much will be rumor? How do you know who is really who they say they are?
Kinda like the internet.
I am in the same boat as Carl is, hilly, heavily wood terrain. Not sure how well hand helds would be if at all.