Exactly what type of 'emergency' did you have in mind? A day, week or longer? My emergency
kit (which I also use for my own field days) includes the following items for about one afternoon or less
of usage;
 Yaesu FT-290RII 2.5 watt 2m all mode radio (with 25 watt amplier on the side if needed).
 Nomad 300 (12v DC & 120v AC) portable power pack from www.solarsense.com
 One 21 watt solar panel to keep the power pack/radio charged.
 LED flashlight and extra batteries.
 Some sandwiches, water and candy bars.
Anything beyond an afternoon, I'll make other arrangements.
George ..

I've been using the Comet SMA-3 with both my FT-60 and Yaesu VX-150. It really pulls in the
signals and does a much better job then the stock antenna.
George ...

Is having a 2m/70cm HT with SSB capabilities too much for these manufacturers to come out with ?!?

Radio Shack could have been what Frys Electronics is today.

As others have mentioned, having a good common ground for all your equipment is essential.
I'm using an APC brand SU1000 UPS for my Icom 746 & 275H as well as other equipment.
Protecting your equipment from AC line noise, voltage spikes, brownouts and blackouts is
what the UPS does best. I doubt there's anything that can protect from a direct lightning strike.

Alan, lifes too short to worry about this. I usually wait 6+ months after any new radio comes out to
see what develops.
George ...

John,

make sure ALL your equipment is running through the UPS which has a secure common ground.
I had a similar problem a few years ago with the computer running through the APC SU1000 UPS
and the radios via power supply to a direct outlet. Once all the equipment was on the UPS side,
no more problems.
George ...

John,

is all the equipment running with a secure common ground? I had a similar problem a few years ago
when the APC UPS here was on a different AC line then the radio and power supply. Now ALL the
equipment (computers, radios, lights, etc.) is running through the same APC SU1000 UPS.
George ...

After installing an APC brand model SU1000 UPS (battery backup) unit here, all the line noise
went away. A lot of the line noise comes from the electric utility itself (ComEd here), and
the UPS also provides power when there's a brown-out or total blackout.

Bob,

for me, HT antennas will always be an 'excercise in compromise'. After trying a few, I settled
on a Comet SMA-3 based on it's size (see description below from www.rffun.com), price ($40)
and performance. I'm using it on both an FT-60R and a Vertex VX-150. For the 6+ months I've
used it, it certainly out performs the stock rubber duckie.
George ...
 
The Comet SMA3 is an HT antenna for 2 meters, 440 and 900 MHz. It is 9.75 inches (250mm) tall and has a fold-over hinge. Gain is a 1.2/1.7/3.4 dBi and can handle up to 10 watts. It can also be used for wideband receive (118-160, 250-290, 360-390, 420-470 and 820-960 MHz). Black color. This antenna terminates to an SMA.
 

Check out Home Power magazine for all the latest info on solar panels.
George ..

Not many. But, there's plenty of fine older all mode 2m rigs available.
Consider the Icom 275 and the portable Yaesu FT-290 series.
George ...

I've seen the Yaesu FT-60R selling used for as low as $150.
George ...

Have you considered using PSK31 or other digital modes on 6m ?
George ...

I always thought that the current market was lacking in inexpensive VHF SSB radios.
Why no 6 or 2m SSB HT's ?!? If you're willing to look, the older all mode QRP portable
Yaesu FT 290, 690, etc series can still be found.
George ...