I am a former CB'er from around 98-2005. We lived in FLA, so surrounded by water, we were able to reach out pretty well.. We use to play cb tag, and in doing so, with a very well known group of people, we learned how to track using the cb signal strength.. One thing I learned well, was that if we wanted them to think they were close to us, but were not, we could sit at the bottom of the bridge 3 towns over, hook the jumper cables to our bumper (that had a steel whip antenna on it), and key up. lol.. ok, not very sportsman like, but I did learn from my X how to do it. Of course everyone in Punta Gorda who normally would get a very weak message from us, got excited thinking they found us, seeing how the needle spiked when we keyed up.., when in fact we were in Englewood..lol...
I plan on putting a steel whip antenna on my truck, steel bumper, and keep a very long pair of jumper cables in my trunk.. If not for anything else, but to get a better signal and reach more people. It wont reach the other side of the US.. or even the next state unless we are just that close... but it will get out there..
Also have to keep a reminder that not everyone you talk to on the cb is a good person.. and just as you want to use a cb for communication, they will have other intentions, such as finding people that are prepared and have food. If we can track signals playing a game, I am sure they can do so trying to survive... please be careful.