Yes, SW requires license...entry level is Technician license...
http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensedCBRS requires licensing but it is a simple registration only. Likewise with
GMRS, though sometimes people can be in non-compliance with FCC regulations if they get a
FRS device that does not require a license but also has some GMRS channel capability requiring a license. General short distance walkie-talkies typically fall under the
MURS frequencies and also do not require a license.
In general, you could get a SW or GMRS device and store it for when the SHTF...I doubt the FCC will be hunting people down who don't have a license in such a situation...
I kinda like 'Soup's approach...people actively using SW and to a lesser extent GMRS are known entities...if already on the list I like the idea of trying to be more on the inside to learn what is what...not that anything nefarious is going to be brazenly passed on...but we're all intelligent people and capable ferreting out fact from fiction...