I suggest taking a bunch of these tests. You might be able to schedule one test and get both technician and general. I did two tests in one day (and missed like 2 or 3 from getting my general). But the technician is fairly easy, but there is some memorization that you need to do.

http://aa9pw.com/radio/

I recommend https://hamstudy.org/

Thanks for the link. I was in Puerto Rico when Maria passed and having a ham radio would have made things so much better. I felt a really deep remorse for never taking the exam. I'll study and get certified now.

Can anyone recommend equipment choices for a noob?

Seconded. I spent about two weeks studying with the mobile version of this site in my free time and managed to pass the technician, general, and amateur extra exams in one sitting.

Thirded, I used hamstudy to pass all of the tests and after a few years on the air I finally know enough to understand the ARRL manuals. I'm reading the extra manual and it's pretty incredible, they walk you through the theory of building a transceiver starting at doping silicone to make semiconductors.

Fourthed, I always recommend hamstudy.org to people. My wife and I both used it to study for a bit each night and easily passed our tests.

We live in an area that doesn't have good cell coverage, or some days the tower just goes down and there isn't any service where there was great service the day before. Even cheap, basic radios are very useful.

Good advice, but honestly just put in the time and you'll get general first time around. There a few good study apps that helped me pass the first time around with some basic high school physics and a month of shitter study sessions.

I am a German (in Germany) having the Extra Class ham license and soon becoming a volunteer examiner for the ARRL. I can tell you: at least getting the Technician License is a piece of cake. If you just want to have your license, one day of clicking through exams at hamexam.org should be enough preparation.

Definitely. Most of the questions on the tech exam are there to make sure you understand what it means to be a radio operator and responsible for your transmissions. Pass it and you can use HTs (VHF/UHF walkie-talkies), which is pretty nice. General lets you use SSB on HF, which actually lets you talk to distant people. You have to know some basic EM and electrical safety for General. Personally I had a hard time studying from Q&As/exams, and I think the license manuals are worth reading.

...it is worth mentioning that indeed the ARRL license manuals are worth every penny! Just great books.

If you can find a ham-cram session (where a volunteer organization gets together and does test prep and test on the same day), it's pretty easy to go from zero to tech or zero to general in a single day.

Be sure to also learn best practices & procedures on how to be a good operator if you go this route. The ARRL tech manual is great for this.

This is similar to what I did; I bought the tech manual, and then used hamstudy.org to learn the tests. Once you get your radio and are able to actually get on the air, use the tech manual as a reference on how you should operate.