EMAP Emergency Preparedness Training

05/31/2026

UPDATES:
We are having to reproduce the ITEHIL RO water purifier test video due to cameraman error. For the June assembly we are covering Faraday Cages and EMP information. There are many youtube videos out there and many are just click bait to get views. In a continuing effort to serve our community we are preparing to dive deeper into the Popcorn Tin and Microwave Faraday Cage debate.

Our goal will be to debunk the myths and provide accurate information as to allow you to make educated choices.

Prepper sites and survival blogs often promote microwaves as cheap fallback Faraday cages, which suits an audience seeking low cost solutions, while physics forums and technical writeups stress limitations and nuance; both angles are truthful but serve different implicit goals—either practical reassurance or technical rigor—so readers should weigh the promotional tone of preparedness sites against experimental reports and physics explanations.

As you know we do not sell products and have no monetary gain from our research. Our goal is to help other to be better prepared and lessen the burden to others.

05/18/2026

READ THE MANUAL! Before you make videos

05/18/2026

Young Preppers need old school preppers
I owe my grandmother a note of thanks. Growing up she told me of how things were during the Depression. As I reflected a few years back I realized that a lot of modern day preppers are planning to fail. Today nobody knows how to do anything anymore.

My grandmother talked about being a young mother with a small child living in rural Kentucky when the depression hit. They survived because they knew things modern people have forgotten. A whole way of living that built resilience into every single day; not survival tricks, not expensive gear but knowledge.

Perhaps you have heard of The Foxfire books. In the late 1960's, Eliot Wigginton and his students created the magazine "Foxfire" in an effort to record and preserve the traditional folk culture of the Southern Appalachians. They were turned into a book compilation of Foxfire material which includes log cabin building, hog dressing, snake lore, mountain crafts and food, and "other affairs of plain living.". All filled with skills one might need to possess to start over.

Most of what gets sold as preparedness today is focused on expensive gear. What our grandparents did was the opposite. It was skill-focused, cheap, and unbreakable. They didn’t prepare for hard times; they simply lived in a way that made hard times survivable.

I’m not saying throw away your cell phone and churn your own butter. What I am saying is that the people who survived the worst economic collapse in American history did it without the things modern preppers fixate on. No solar panels. No water filters that cost three hundred dollars. No tactical gear. No bug-out bags. They had something better. They had knowledge that lived in their hands and heads.

Lets look at the Great Depression
The 1930s were brutal; unemployment was 25% nationally. In some cities, it was closer to 50%. Around 9,000 banks failed between 1930 and 1933. Roughly nine million savings accounts vanished overnight. The Dust Bowl displaced 2.5 million people across the Great Plains. Soup kitchens stretched for blocks in major cities. People who had money and lost it committed su***de because they could not cope with being broke. Children went to school in shoes stuffed with newspaper because the soles were gone.

That’s the hard truth not a folksy adventure. It was a decade long emergency that broke a lot of people and shaped the rest for the rest of their lives. The reason their methods matter is because they worked under those conditions. Not under TickTok or YouTube conditions. Not under weekend warrior suburban-blackout-weekend conditions. They worked under real, sustained, soul-grinding pressure.

Back in 1930 ninety percent of American farms had no electricity and only ten percent of rural homes had power. Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal contained The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems to serve rural areas. However many rural areas didn't get reliable grid power until after World War II. Fewer and fewer people have lived without the power grid. They didn't think of themselves as off grid; they didn't have words for it. It was just life as they knew it and did what they had to do to get through it.

Their lives were built around the assumption that no outsiders were coming to help. No emergency services outside of the Marshall, Sheriff or volunteer fire department could be called on. There was no FEMA!

Today modern preppers tend to think older people are a burden or risk in an emergency. Instead they rely on buying gear and gadgets to replace the grid until it returns. Our ancestors built lives that never needed the grid. The difference if enormous in one is a temporary fix and the other is solid foundation to build on.

05/10/2026

Barter Items: The Post-Collapse Economy
Money has value because we collectively agree it does. When supply chains collapse and stores close, that agreement weakens. Barter economies emerge naturally in their place.

I’m not suggesting you prepare primarily for barter—your supplies should first meet your own needs. But understanding what becomes valuable in crisis economies helps you prioritize what to store and recognizes opportunities when they arise.

High-Value Barter Categories
Consumables that are hard to produce: Salt has been currency throughout human history for good reason. You cannot make it easily, and you cannot live long without it. Soap, candles, matches, batteries—the things that get used up and can’t be replaced.

Vices: History consistently shows that people will trade necessities for alcohol, to***co, and caffeine during crises. Whether you consider this rational or not, it’s predictable. Mini bottles of liquor, packs of ci******es, instant coffee—these store well and trade high.

Ammunition: Controversial but true. In every modern societal breakdown I’ve studied, ammunition becomes currency among those who have fi****ms. Standard calibers (9mm, .22LR, 12 gauge) trade most readily. Store what you’ll use first, but recognize surplus has exchange value. (My take is if you trade it it can be used against you so be sure who you deal with)

Medical supplies: Pain relievers, antibiotic ointments, bandages, children’s medications—anyone with dependents will trade significantly for these when pharmacies are closed.

Seeds: For extended collapses, heirloom seeds that can be saved and replanted become enormously valuable. A $3 packet of tomato seeds today could trade for substantial goods when growing your own food becomes necessary.

What becomes priceless: Items that are simultaneously useful to you and valuable to others. Diversified small quantities beat specialized large quantities for barter flexibility. Don’t become known as “the guy with all the alcohol”—that makes you a target, not a trading partner.

04/21/2026

What Your car says about you

Did you know that your car decals and bumper stickers could be giving your personal information away to criminals? We know you are proud of your children and their accomplishments, however, it is important to be mindful of what you are making public when it is displayed on the back of your vehicle. Stickers and Decals with personal information like where your children go to school, where you spend your time, hobbies you enjoy, etc. could pose a risk to the safety of you and your family. Non-specific decals and stickers such as favorite sports teams or favorite TV/movies pose less of a safety risk.

Be mindful of what information you are driving around with as it could make you, your family, or your home vulnerable to crime.
Drive Safe,

04/20/2026

ALERT NOTICE:
April 16, the United States government released a report detailing a major increase in the production of "plutonium pits," which are the radioactive cores used in nuclear weapons. To meet new defense goals, facilities in New Mexico and South Carolina are ramping up operations, with more activity planned for sites in Washington and Georgia.

While this work is for national defense, the report admits that more production means a higher risk of accidental radiation exposure for people living near these plants or along the highways where these materials are trucked.

If you do not have Potassium Iodide Tablets now would be a good time to pick up some. They are still reasonable priced on Amazon 65mg is lowest dose and 130mg is highest. (consult CDC)

Here are the Department of Defense filings
https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/draft-eis-0573-plutonium-pit-production-summary-2026-04.pdf

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/draft-eis-0573-plutonium-pit-production-vol-1-2026-04.pdf

https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2026-04/draft-eis-0573-plutonium-pit-production-vol-2-2026-04.pdf

For information on Potassium Iodide dosing and useage
https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-emergencies/treatment/potassium-iodide.html

04/17/2026

Some thing a little different for you today to enjoy.

In a emergency some items may not be available for various reasons. Here is a simple and easy way to make Vinegar. I use glass jars.

How to Make Vinegar with Just Scrapes, Sugar and Distilled Water
To make vinegar with just scrapes, sugars, and distilled water, follow these steps:

Prepare the Scraps: Place your fruit scraps, such as apple peels or strawberry tops, in a clean jar.

Add Sugar and Water: 2-4 Tbs sugar per quart. Sprinkle sugar over the scraps and fill the jar with distilled water until the scraps are completely submerged. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

Cover the Jar: Cover the jar with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and secure it with a rubber band to allow for air circulation.

Ferment: Place the jar in a dark, cool place and let it ferment for about two weeks. Stir every other day to keep the mixture moving.

Strain: After four weeks, strain the mixture to remove the solids and allow the vinegar to continue fermenting for an additional two weeks.

Store: Once the vinegar is ready, store it in a cool, dark place in a jar. It can be used in cooking or as a natural cleaning agent.

This method is a great way to utilize fruit scraps and create flavorful vinegar that can be used in various culinary applications.

04/11/2026

I have spent the last few weeks going over data for the second quarter of 2026, USDA food outlook, supply chain shipping metrics (fuel cost) and weather effect on the grid.

If you have been listening to the analyst they tell us we are just one major event away form total economic collapse.

What I am seeing in the data for the next six months (Q2) is something worse for the average American and it is not even being talked about anywhere.

Our purchasing power is slowly being eroded away and most people don’t even see it.

• With the U.S. cattle herd at a 70-year low, beef prices are projected to surge nearly 10% this year.
• Supply chain disruptions are no longer isolated events; they are becoming more prevalent. Just last week Kimberly-Clark had a 1.2 million square foot distribution center burn down. Kimberly-Clark makes Scott brand and other toilet tissue.

The point isn’t that the sky is falling. The point is that the floor is slowly tilting and most people won’t notice until they’re sliding.

The USDA’s Economic Research Service released their 2026 Food Price Outlook, and the headline number looks almost comforting, overall grocery prices predicted to rise about 2.5% this year. That’s actually below the 20-year average of 2.6%. It’s an average and averages lie.

If you at category level data, the picture shows, Beef and veal prices are projected to surge 9.4% in 2026. This is due to the U.S. cattle herd is at a 70-year low right now.

Sugar and sweets prices up 6.7% and non-alcoholic beverages especially coffee up 5.2%. If you drink coffee every morning, your daily habit just got measurably more expensive. Climate-driven production problems in Brazil and Vietnam hammered coffee harvests, and those supply shocks haven’t fully worked through the system yet.

One bright note is the price of eggs. After the bird flu sent prices to over $6 a dozen earlier this year, the USDA projects egg prices could drop more than 20% as supply recovers. That price drop just brings eggs back to where they were before the crisis.

Pork is projected to get slightly cheaper, with about 0.3% decline predicted.

Fresh fruits are expected to rise by a fraction of a percentage point.

However fresh vegetables are looking at a 1.4% bump, and that number could go higher depending on precipitation patterns in California, where much of our produce grows.

Here is what I suggest people do now, prioritize protein in their food storage plan. Canned chicken, tuna, sardines, oysters, turkey, beef and pork (preferably packed in natural juices or water).

I would also suggest you stock up on coffee. Buy whole beans, vacuum seal them, and store them in a cool, dark place. A 20% price increase on something you consume daily adds up fast over six months. Coffee is also an excellent barter item.

With sugar at 6.7% projected increases, basic baking supplies are going to feel the pinch. Sugar stores almost indefinitely when kept dry, so there’s zero downside to buying an extra 25-pound bag now.

Medications.
If you or anyone in your household takes prescription medications, talk to your doctor about getting a 90-day supply instead of 30. Some insurance plans allow this with a mail-order pharmacy, and it gives you a critical buffer against pharmacy supply disruptions. I know someone who ran out of blood pressure medication during a supply disruption in 2022. It took her two weeks to get a refill. That’s not a prep scenario it’s a real thing that happened.

Over The Counter essentials.
Pain relievers, allergy medications, cold and flu supplies, and first aid materials. These are the first things to disappear from shelves during any disruption, and they store easily for years.

Spare parts for critical systems.
If you have a well pump, a generator, a wood stove, or any other system your household depends on, identify the parts most likely to fail and keep spares on hand. I’ve got spare filters for my solar system, oil and filters for my generator.

Sources used to gather information
https://www.financialcontent.com/article/marketminute-2026-2-2-us-cattle-herd-shrinks-to-75-year-low-beef-supply-crisis-deepens-as-inventories-hit-1951-levels

https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings

https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2026/01/21/how-are-shoppers-feeling-entering-the-new-year

https://dietetics.academy/advance-nutrition/daily-energy-micronutrient-needs-crisis/

Imagine the scene: a flood, an earthquake, or a conflict suddenly displaces thousands of people. They arrive at a camp with nothing but the clothes on their

04/04/2026

WATER FILTRATION AND PURIFICATION (Final)
I am always doing research and after six months of checking this and digging deeper; I have decided this is the true winner. I had planed on filtering and distillation for my personal water plan. This however covers all the issues and unlike the Berkey that don’t remove total dissolved solids (TDS) this does! That means heavy metals, minerals, and dissolved contaminants are removed.

So what does that mean? Most water filters, Sawyer, LifeStraw, even Berkey, remove bacteria, parasites, and sediment. They don’t remove: - Heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic) - Viruses (hepatitis, norovirus) - Chemical contaminants (pesticides, PFAS, chlorine) - Dissolved solids

Reverse osmosis removes ALL of it.
The ITEHIL system uses a 4-stage filtration process:
PP-Cotton filter - removes sediment, rust, large particles
Activated carbon - removes chlorine, odors, organic compounds
Reverse osmosis membrane - 0.0001 micron pores (removes viruses, heavy metals, chemicals)
Remineralization filter - adds back healthy minerals your body needs

The result: Cleaner water than what comes out of most city taps. From a creek, a pond, a lake and even a swimming pool.

What makes this different from other RO systems?
This one is portable.
It weighs only 13 pounds and fits in a backpack.
It has built-in rechargeable battery (dual 6,000 mAh batteries).
It has a self-priming pump that sucks water from any source no gravity needed.
It produces 500ml (17 oz) per minute.
That is 9 gallons per charge.
You can charge it with a USB-C charger or with a solar panel.

Filter lifespan:
RO filter: 600-800 gallons
Hybrid filter: 300-400 gallons
For a family of four drinking 1 gallon per day, that’s 6-8 months on one set of filters.

Replacement filters cost $29-39.
Compare that to:
Berkey replacement filters: $150+ per pair
Bottled water for 6 months: $400+
LifeStraw (doesn’t remove viruses or heavy metals)

I have obtained a group discount of 20% off all purchases and FREE SHIPPING for MPR (Friends and family) as well as The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.

To receive group discount and free shipping you can scan the QR code to the left or go to https://itehil.com/ and use code: EMP25635