On the SCTAC-2 repeater I heard nothing that sounded like public safety either, some talk of getting generators started, power needed for some vendors, fees, etc.
I only had my pro97 with 800rs whip with me for scanning, but I did pretty well as far as RXing the repeater NE of Gaffney on I-85 Looking back I should have carried with me at the hamfest to kill some time while waiting for some other folks to finish testing, but I was not that bored at the time to consider it