Everybody is a "clown" real class about talking about fellow Amateur Radio Operators!    Best suggestion is to obtain a part 90 radio license for the CERT team instead of using Amateur Radio.  Heck must be a lot extra Public Service Freqs in his area!  He works in public comms area no wonder he wants everything on Part 90!  Gotta sell dem radios!

Down here in Louisiana, we had a cellphone company who also was tied into the Local Govt 2 way market kinda of heavy and dissuaded local Govt from using the hammies as they called us and wanted all rage to be the cellphone!   In KATRINA the cells and 800 MHz stopped working and there was loss of life due to the loss of communications!   In the ensuing legal snafus the message of the Court was "your communitions failed, don't sell it as better if you can not back up your claim.".  "Amateur Radio was still operational as pointed out and the local communications companies don't put off Amateur Radio as a backup anymore since that legal fiasco.  Most companies here will sell you the main system but not a back up based on the main to avoid liability.   Cellphone Companies strictly do not guarantee service during a Hurricane!   

For the most part, you are right, if there is no equipment or money being handled, then INCORPORATION does not make sense but if the "group" owns equipment or has money in the bank, then you must have some method of accounting for the assets.  

In Louisiana, Unincorporated Associations can not own property or money!  This created some controversy in that a person can not recieve property from the State but a Non-Profit Corp duly registered can.  Each State and Situation is different.  

I done this for a local ARES bunch in SouthEast Louisiana and it was very simple if the following caveats are followed:

1. Incorporate as a non profit under your state laws.  Since you did not say which State, you need to check withsomeone knowledgable on State Law.  Here in Louisiana, the forms for incorporation may be downloaded from the Secretary of State's Website!

2. Apply to the IRS for 510 (c) 3 status on form 1024, remember, it is slow process.  Read the instructions, it is not hard, just tedious.  

Check out
http://www.ares.org/fundraising
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/ARES-Registered-Trademark.pdf/articles.htm
http://www.ares.org/fundraising/501.pdf