At a Glance: Measles Outbreak 2026

• The latest measles outbreak US update as of March 2026 confirms 1,500 cases, making it critical to refresh indoor air frequently since the virus remains active and suspended for up to two hours.
• To prevent getting measles from spreading to the rest of your family, check your children’s mouths for tiny white “salt” spots and begin isolation four days before the skin rash even appears.
• Having the right supplies for measles outbreak such as 200,000 IU Vitamin A and WHO-formula electrolytes can help you manage 104°F fevers at home and protect your family’s long-term immune health.

Most preparedness plans focus on visible threats like power outages or storms, but the 2026 measles surge is a reminder that health protocols are just as vital to your home security. According to the CDC, the United States has officially surpassed 1,500 confirmed cases so far in 2026, with the most significant clusters centered in South Carolina, Utah, and Texas.

Protecting your family means knowing the early warning signs and stocking up specific medical supplies to manage the virus under your own roof. This guide covers the essential prevention and home-care strategies you need to navigate the 2026 measles outbreak safely.

How the Measles Virus Spreads 

The virus is incredibly resilient once it’s in the air. Understanding how it moves through a space is the first step in making sure it stays away from your family. To protect your household, you need to be aware of these three biological realities.

• The air stays dangerous for hours: If someone with the virus sneezes in a room and leaves, that air can still infect you for up to two hours.
• It spreads fast in a house: If one person in your home gets it, there’s a 90% chance that everyone else who isn’t immune will catch it too.
• It affects your long-term health: Measles can “wipe” your immune system’s memory, meaning your body might forget how to fight off other illnesses for months after you’ve recovered.

Essential Supplies for a Measles Medical Kit

When an outbreak hits, medical supplies disappear from store shelves almost instantly. Having these items on hand now ensures you can care for your family at home without having to go out. Make sure your outbreak bin includes these three priority items.

• High-Dose Vitamin A: The standard protocol to prevent complications is 200,000 IU for adults (and children over 12) taken for two consecutive days. For children under 12 months, the dose is 100,000 IU.

• WHO-Formula Electrolytes: Stock “Oral Rehydration Salts” (ORS) rather than sports drinks, as they have the precise ratio of salt and sugar needed to prevent dehydration during a 104°F fever.

• Airborne Protection: Ensure you have N95 or P100 respirators for caregivers; standard surgical masks do not stop the microscopic particles that stay suspended in the air.

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3M Aura Particulate Respirator 9205+, N95, Pack of 20 Disposable Respirators, Individually Wrapped…

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Last update on 2026-03-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to Identify Measles Symptoms Early

Waiting for a rash is the most common mistake because the person is already contagious four days before any spots appear. Identifying the respiratory phase early gives you the time you need to set up your isolation room before the exposure spreads. Watch for these indicators during the 10-day progression of the illness.

• Early Detection: Watch for the “Three Cs”: Cough, Coryza (runny nose), and Conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes) paired with a spiking fever.

• The Mouth Check: Look for Koplik Spots (tiny white dots that look like salt) on the inside of the cheeks; these are the final warning before the body rash starts.

Image Credit: CDC. “Koplik Spots”

The “Rule of Fours” Progression

Image: CDC

• The 6-Month Immune Reset: Even after the rash fades, the patient enters a high-risk phase where their immune system stays compromised. Keep them away from other sick individuals for six months to allow their natural defenses to rebuild.

The 10-Day Measles Isolation Plan at Home

Since you can’t diagnose measles during its silent 10- to 14-day incubation period, your tactical plan starts the moment the first symptom appears. This timeline ensures you stay ahead of the virus as it progresses from a fever to the recovery phase.

Measles Outbreak Common Mistakes

• Waiting for the Spots: If you wait for the rash to isolate, you’ve already exposed everyone. Isolate as soon as the high fever and “red eyes” start.
• Buying “Random” Preps: A 20lb bag of rice won’t help a child with a 105°F fever. Your outbreak bin should be 100% focused on fever, hydration, and air filtration.
• The Single-Caregiver Trap: If your primary medic gets sick, the whole system fails. Rotate caregivers and use N95 masks religiously.

Beating an airborne virus at home comes down to recognizing the symptoms early, setting up strict isolation, and supporting your family through the recovery. Build your outbreak bin to bypass the panic buying and empty pharmacy shelves if local cases rise. Having the right supplies already under your roof means you never have to step out and risk exposing the rest of your household.

FAQs

How do you know if it’s measles before the rash shows up? The earliest signs mimic a severe cold: a high fever (often spiking to 104°F), a harsh cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes. The absolute giveaway, which appears a day or two before the body rash, is “Koplik spots” or tiny white dots that look like grains of salt on the inside of the cheeks.

Can adults catch measles from a sick child, or is it just a childhood disease? Yes, adults can absolutely catch measles if they are unvaccinated or their immunity has waned over time. In fact, measles in adults often leads to more severe complications, like pneumonia, than it does in young children. If a child brings the virus home, every non-immune adult in the house has a 90% chance of contracting it.

Why is the 6-month recovery period after measles so dangerous? Measles causes a condition called “immune amnesia,” which essentially wipes your immune system’s memory of past infections. For months after the rash fades, your body forgets how to fight off everyday bugs like the common cold or flu. Because of this, a recovered patient must actively avoid crowds and sick individuals long after the measles virus is gone while their internal defenses rebuild.

QUICK POLL

For the moment, we have avoided a global economic cataclysm. President Trump was threatening to completely destroy Iran’s power grid if the Iranians did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and in response the Iranians were threatening to destroy oil and gas infrastructure all over the Middle East. Once that infrastructure is gone it would have to be replaced, and that would take years. Meanwhile, the entire world would be forced to endure the worst energy crisis in human history and the economic fallout would be intolerable. The good news is that President Trump has announced that he will not be attacking Iran’s power grid for at least five days. I think that once Iran released the list of oil and gas facilities that would be targeted if their power grid got destroyed, Trump decided to reconsider his plans…

Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Mehr news wrote: “In case of the slightest attack on the electricity infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the entire region will go dark.” Here’s the target list it shared:

Saudi Arabia

• The Village (near Al-Khobar): gas power plant (4,000+ MW)
• Ras Tanura (Sharqiya Province): major oil and gas facility / power infrastructure

United Arab Emirates

• Barakah (Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi): nuclear power plant (~5,600 MW)
• Jebel Ali (South Dubai): gas power and desalination complex (multi-GW capacity)
• Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park (Dubai): large-scale solar power project

Qatar

• Ras Laffan (north Qatar): gas power plant (one of the largest in Qatar)
• Umm Al Houl (south of Doha): gas power + desalination plant (multi-GW capacity)

Kuwait

• Al-Zour South: oil and gas power plant
• Al-Zour North: combined-cycle power plant (multi-GW capacity)
• Shaqaya Energy Park (west Kuwait): solar and wind renewable energy complex

Please note that the Ras Laffan natural gas complex in Qatar is on that list.

It normally produces approximately 20 percent of the world’s entire supply of liquified natural gas.

17 percent of that facility has already been destroyed, but if the rest of it gets wiped out that alone would be enough to plunge the globe into an economic death spiral that would last for years.

I am sure that Qatar and the other Gulf countries have been screaming at Trump to pull back before it is too late.

Another reason why Trump could not attack Iranian power plants right now is because pro-regime civilians have started to form “human chains” around some of them…

Civilians in Ahvaz and Mashhad formed human chains around major power plants on Monday, according to footage published by the state‑run Fars news agency on Telegram. The videos show residents standing shoulder‑to‑shoulder outside the Ramin power plant in Ahvaz, many holding Iranian flags, while similar crowds gathered near a facility in Mashhad.

Images of U.S. bombs blowing up women and children would have absolutely horrified people all over the planet.

So there was no way that Trump could make good on his threats.

On Monday morning, Trump told the world that any attacks on the Iranian power grid have been delayed for at least five days…

It would be wonderful if “productive conversations” were taking place.

Let us hope that is the truth.

But the Iranians are completely denying that any conversations are taking place, and they are celebrating that Trump has “backed down”…

Shortly after US President Donald Trump announced that he is deferring “any and all” strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure on productive resolution talks, Iranian media reports denied any ‘direct’ or ‘intermediary’ communication with him.

“Trump, fearing Iran’s response, backed down from his 48-hour ultimatum,” Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said in a post on X.

Ebrahim Rezaei, Spokesperson of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission reiterated the claims and said, “Trump and America have backed down again. The field is still charging forward. Another defeat for the devil,” in a post on X.

Each side is telling a completely different story.

So what is the truth?

It is being widely reported in the western media that the individual that the Trump administration is communicating with is Mohammad‑Bagher Ghalibaf, but he is strongly denying this…

Multiple news outlets reported in the past hour that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had been engaged in negotiations with Mohammad‑Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament. But an X account attributed to Ghalibaf swiftly rejected those claims, saying no discussions with the United States had taken place.

The post accused unnamed actors of spreading “fake news” to manipulate global oil markets and insisted that the Iranian public “demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors.”

Personally, I don’t know how Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf could have been much clearer.

And Iran’s Foreign Ministry is also telling us that there have been no negotiations…

Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied on Monday any direct negotiations with U.S. officials, but said “friendly countries” had conveyed messages from Washington seeking negotiations.

“In recent days, messages were delivered through certain friendly countries indicating that the U.S. sought negotiations to end the war. These messages were appropriately addressed in line with our country’s principled positions,” Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, told the country’s state news agency IRNA on Monday. “In our responses, we issued firm warnings about the severe consequences of any attack on Iran’s critical infrastructure, emphasizing that any action against Iran’s energy facilities would be met with a decisive, immediate, and effective response from our armed forces.”

Maybe the Iranians are simply choosing not to tell the truth.

Needless to say, they don’t exactly have a strong track record for veracity.

Despite Iran’s denials, Trump continues to insist that there have been “very, very strong talks”…

“Well they’re going to have to get themselves better public relations people,” Mr. Trump said. “We have had very, very strong talks. We’ll see where they lead. We have points, major points of agreement, I would say almost all points of agreement. Perhaps that hasn’t been conveyed. The communication, as you know, has been blown to pieces.”

The president would not say who his administration is speaking to in Iran, only saying it was a “top” person but not the supreme leader. Mr. Trump added that Iran contacted the U.S., saying, “So they called, I didn’t call. They called. They want to make a deal.”

Ultimately, I don’t think that any of this is going anywhere.

As I write this article, missiles continue to fly all over the Middle East.

The Iranians just launched more attacks, and the Israelis continue to pummel targets in Iranian territory.

And thousands of U.S. Marines continue to sail toward the Middle East…

There has been no change in plans to send thousands more Marines and sailors to the Middle East, military sources told CBS News.

A second Marine Expeditionary Unit of about 2,200 Marines and three warships departed California last week, two U.S. officials previously said. It could take at least three weeks to be in place, although maybe more than that.

The first Marine Expeditionary Unit, coming from the Pacific, is still making its way toward the region.

In addition to the Marine units that are on the way, it is also being reported that elements of the 82nd Airborne Division could soon be sent to the Middle East…

Senior military officials are weighing a possible deployment of a combat brigade from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and some elements of the division’s headquarters staff to support U.S. military operations in Iran, defense officials said.

I think that Trump is really hoping that Iran will give him the sort of deal that he is seeking.

But that isn’t going to happen.

And Trump can’t pull the U.S. out of the war as long as Iran is preventing commercial ships from traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and as long as Iran is hitting targets all over the Middle East with drones and missiles.

The Iranians feel like they have control over when this war will end, and so they are making all sorts of extremely outrageous demands that the U.S. and Israel can never possibly accept.  They actually want all U.S. forces in the Middle East to be completely removed, they want to continue enriching uranium, and they want the U.S. and Israel to fully pay for all the damage that their bombing has caused.

Needless to say, the U.S. and Israel will never agree to any of that.

So I think that this war is going to continue for quite some time, and I also think that more escalations are inevitable.

And that is really bad news for the global economy, because this war has already had “a worse impact on oil than the two oil shocks of the 1970s combined”…

The head of the International Energy Agency said Monday that the global economy faces a “major, major threat” because of the Iran war.

“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction,” Fatih Birol said at Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra on Monday.

The ​crisis in ​the Middle ⁠East, he said, has had a worse impact on oil than the two oil shocks of the 1970s combined, and a worse effect on gas than the Russia-Ukraine war.

We should all be thankful that a nightmare scenario has been avoided for the time being.

But it appears that this is just a very temporary reprieve.

The Iranians will never give Trump what he wants, and the U.S. and Israel will never give the Iranians what they are seeking.

The two sides are not even in the same universe as far as what a peace deal should look like, and that means that a lot more fighting is still ahead.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Has A Global Catastrophe Been Averted, Or Is This Just A Very Temporary Reprieve? appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Instead of backing down, it appears that both sides are preparing to take the showdown in the Middle East to the next level. Of course we have already witnessed some absolutely stunning escalations during this past week. After Israel bombed the South Pars gas field in Iran, the Iranians responded by pummeling Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas complex. The damage that Israel and Iran caused in just 24 hours will set the global economy back for years. But the escalations that are ahead may dwarf anything that we have seen so far.

If the U.S. puts boots on the ground inside Iranian territory, that would be an absolutely massive escalation.

In response, the Iranians would likely totally freak out and there is no telling what they might do.

Ominously, CBS News is reporting that U.S. military officials “have made detailed preparations for deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran”…

Pentagon officials have made detailed preparations for deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran, multiple sources briefed on the discussions told CBS News.

Senior military commanders have submitted specific requests aimed at preparing for such an option as President Trump weighs moves in the U.S.-Israel-led conflict with Iran, the sources said.

Mr. Trump has been deliberating whether to position ground forces in the region, sources said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. It was unclear under what circumstances he would authorize the use of troops on the ground.

Just because “detailed preparations” are being made does not mean that President Trump will pull the trigger.

But we do know that lots of U.S. Marines are being sent to the Middle East.

In fact, ABC News is telling us that it appears that yet another group of Marines is going to be headed for the region…

Three Navy ships carrying 2,200 Marines left San Diego earlier this week for a previously scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific, but two U.S. officials tell ABC News their ultimate destination is likely the Middle East.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is aboard the USS Boxer, the USS Comstock and the USS Portland — along with 2,000 sailors.

If this group of Marines ends up in the Middle East, it will bring the grand total that have been deployed in recent days to about 9,000…

If it receives final orders to the Middle East, joining the 31st MEU, it will be an increase of close to 9,000 additional forces to the region.

The 31st MEU is still on its way to the Middle East from Asia after receiving orders from the Pentagon last Friday. Those Marines and ships are likely to arrive in the region sometime next week.

There are a number of important Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf that the Marines could be used to take.

At the top of that list would be Kharg Island, and we are being told that President Trump is “considering” a ground operation there…

Donald Trump is considering invading Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Three separate marine units, trained for amphibious assaults, have been deployed to the Middle East, with the Pentagon considering sending more to reinforce Operation Epic Fury.

Kharg Island, located 15 miles off Iran’s coast in the Persian Gulf, is the country’s main oil export terminal and critical to its fragile economy.

It could be argued that Kharg Island is the most critical piece of real estate the Iran controls.

Since approximately 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports go through Kharg Island, the goal would be to grab it and use it as leverage…

“Kharg Island, 90% of their oil comes through there. So you’ve got really two choices,” said retired Gen. Frank McKenzie, the former commander of U.S. Central Command. “You can destroy the oil infrastructure, which would give irrevocable damage to the Iranian economy and the global economy, or you could seize it to use as a bargaining chip, which doesn’t then permanently degrade the world economy.”

But I don’t think that we will see an operation to seize Kharg Island just yet, because it is going to take some time to get the Marines that are now being deployed into position.

And an anonymous source has told Axios that the U.S. military will “need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes” before conditions will be right for an invasion of the island…

However, such an operation – which would leave US troops exposed to Iranian missiles and drones – would only be launched once Iran’s coastal military capabilities have been further degraded, sources told Axios.

“We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations,” one source said.

Invading Kharg Island would instantly eliminate about 90 percent of Iranian oil exports.

But it would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and that is what the world really needs at this point.

I think that U.S. officials are hoping that hitting Iran where it really hurts will force them to end the war on our terms.

But instead it could just cause the Iranians to lash out even more wildly.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the next time we attack Iran’s energy infrastructure they will show “zero restraint”…

Here’s what Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted to X on Thursday: “Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again. Any end to this war must address damage to our civilian sites.”

An invasion of Kharg Island would certainly qualify as an attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure.

So what would “zero restraint” look like?

Needless to say, if Iran does even more damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan natural gas complex it will be catastrophic for the global economy.

But could it be possible that Araghchi was referring to something else?

At this stage, Iranian leaders are openly threatening to attack “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” all over the world…

Iran’s top military spokesman warned Friday that “parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations” worldwide won’t be safe for Tehran’s enemies.

Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi made the threat as Iran continues to be hit by American and Israeli airstrikes. It renewed concerns that Iran may revert to using militant attacks beyond the Middle East as a pressure tactic in the war.

They would like for us to believe that nowhere is safe.

But there is only so much that they could do with conventional weapons.

My concern is that the Iranians could end up using some of the unconventional weapons that they have been holding back.

Interestingly, the World Health Organization is publicly admitting that they are extremely concerned about the potential for a “nuclear incident” in the Middle East…

Officials at the World Health Organization have admitted that they are preparing for a “worst-case scenario” nuclear threat if the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran escalates.

Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the eastern Mediterranean, said that staff remain “vigilant” for a nuclear incident following President Donald Trump’s decision to bomb Iran in a joint campaign with Israel.

“The worst-case scenario is a nuclear incident, and that’s something that worries us the most,” Balkhy told Politico. “As much as we prepare, there’s nothing that can prevent the harm that will come … the region’s way — and globally if this eventually happens — and the consequences are going to last for decades.”

If Iran is pushed too far, I think that they will throw everything that they have left at us.

And if any unconventional weapons are used against Israel, I am convinced that they won’t show any restraint either.

We have reached such a dangerous moment in human history.

Both sides are absolutely determined to win this war, and a “point of no return” could be just around the corner.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post Are We On The Brink Of A Major Escalation In Our War With Iran? appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Prior to the war with Iran, the world had more than enough oil and gas, and as a result it was very inexpensive. Now we have transitioned into a time when that is no longer true at all. Both sides in this war are now specifically targeting oil and gas infrastructure, and that is going to have devastating consequences. Even if the war ended tomorrow and the Strait of Hormuz was immediately reopened, there is no way that conditions would return to how they were just before the war any time soon. Oil and gas facilities that have been damaged could take many months to repair. Oil and gas facilities that have been completely destroyed could take years to rebuild. What this means is that oil and gas prices are going to remain at elevated levels for an extended period of time, and that is really bad news because our entire way of life is based on cheap energy.

On Wednesday, a stunning series of airstrikes absolutely pummeled the South Pars gas field in Iran…

Iran said the US and Israel struck its giant South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, the latest attack on energy assets in the region-wide conflict.

Oil prices jumped after Iranian state TV reported the airstrike, which raised fears of further risks to global crude and gas supplies. Gulf producers have significantly reduced output during the 19-day war, particularly due to the effective shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz.

If confirmed, the assault would mark the first time the US and Israel have targeted Iran’s upstream oil and gas facilities since starting the war on Feb. 28.

This was an enormous escalation.

Up to this point, the U.S. and Israel had left the South Pars gas field alone.

As a result of the airstrikes, production at two of the primary refineries at South Pars came to a screeching halt…

The attack effectively halted production at two of the field’s refineries, which typically put out about 100 million cubic meters of gas a day, according to state media.

It would be difficult for me to overstate how important this is.

South Pars is the home of “the largest known gas reserve in the world”, and it normally produces approximately 70 percent of all natural gas used in Iran…

The South Pars/North Dome mega-field is the largest known gas reserve in the world. The field supplies around 70 percent of Iran’s domestic natural gas. Iran, which shares the massive field with energy giant Qatar, has been developing its side since the late 1990s.

So now Iran will be immediately facing an unprecedented domestic energy crisis.

There simply won’t be enough energy for everyone, and this is going to have a huge impact on Iran’s ability to keep fighting…

The South Pars attack signals a shift in the conduct of the war toward degrading Iran’s economic infrastructure and curbing its ability to continue fighting, according to Hamidreza Azizi, a visiting fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin.

“South Pars is central to Iran’s gas supply and, by extension, to electricity generation and industrial activity,” Azizi said by email. “Even limited or temporary disruptions can translate into power shortages, industrial slowdowns, and broader economic strain.”

Needless to say, the Iranians are extremely angry about what has just happened.

In response, they are threatening to attack oil and gas infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates…

Iranian state media issued a new warning Wednesday urging civilians living near major oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to leave immediately, saying the sites will be targeted “in the coming hours.”

In a Telegram post, the semi‑official Tasnim news agency listed several facilities it said were at risk. The sites included the Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia; the Mesaieed petrochemical complex, Mesaieed Holding Company and Ras Laffan refinery in Qatar; and the Al Hosn gas field in the UAE.

Tasnim said the facilities had become “direct and legitimate targets” and urged residents, workers and nearby communities to move to a safe distance without delay.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are apparently taking these threats quite seriously, because it is being reported that oil and gas facilities in those countries are being hastily evacuated…

Energy sites across the Middle East were being evacuated on Wednesday as Iran threatened strikes on facilities “in the coming hours”.

The price of oil surged by more than 5pc to $108 a barrel after ‌Iran urged staff to leave sites in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar ahead of a possible strike, according to state media.

Such an assault would further cripple global oil and gas supplies, with Brent crude reaching the highest level in 10 days amid fears of a growing shortage.

As I write this article, reports are circulating on social media that indicate that targets have been hit in Saudi Arabia.

In the coming hours, we shall see if those reports are confirmed or not.

I think that the Saudis are rapidly losing patience with Iran.

In fact, a Saudi analyst just told CBC News that if Saudi Arabia joins the war it “will activate its bilateral defence agreement with Pakistan”…

If Saudi Arabia joins the US-Israeli war on Iran, it will activate its mutual defence pact with Pakistan and potentially lean on the South Asian country’s nuclear arsenal, a Saudi Arabian analyst told Canada’s CBC News.

“If the Saudis were to decide to enter with complete force…Iran is going to be the biggest loser because Saudi Arabia will activate its bilateral defence agreement with Pakistan,” Salman al-Ansari, a Saudi Arabian geopolitical researcher, said in an interview.

“We can say it literally that there is a nuclear umbrella over Saudi Arabia,” he added.

We are in such dangerous territory now.

If the Iranians are backed into a corner, there is no telling what they might do.

But there is no turning back now.  A number of Gulf states are actually encouraging the Trump administration to finish the job because they don’t want Iran to ever be in a position to do something like this again…

Battered by Iranian strikes and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates and some fellow Persian Gulf states have come to view Iran’s theocracy as an existential enemy. They now want the regime they once courted to be neutered, if not dismantled, when the conflict ends—so the ordeal is never repeated.

The U.A.E. has borne the brunt of Iranian attacks: more than 2,000 drones and missiles have been fired at the country since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28.

Of course it would take quite some time to do what they are asking.

Even a military operation that would be designed to take control of the Strait of Hormuz would extend the duration of this war by months…

A number of sources told The Jerusalem Post that if President Donald Trump decides to launch a military operation to take control of the Strait of Hormuz – an operation intended to ensure freedom of navigation – it could significantly prolong the war “by weeks, if not months.”

“This could extend the war by as much as two months,” one source familiar with the discussions said.

If taking control of the Strait of Hormuz would take “months”, how long would full-blown regime change take?

It is becoming clear that this isn’t going to be a short war.

And the longer this war persists, the more damage we will see to oil and gas infrastructure throughout the Middle East.

Energy prices are just going to keep on rising, and the global economy and the global financial system are not going to be able to handle that.

Michael’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  He has also written nine other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post It’s An Energy War Now! Oil And Gas Infrastructure All Over The Middle East Is Being Targeted And This Will Have Devastating Consequences appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

A Complete Guide On Finding The Best Manual Wood Splitter For YOU

Splitting firewood by hand is a time-honored tradition—great for staying warm, building muscle, and working up a proper appreciation for modern tools.

But swinging an axe all day? That’s a fast track to a sore back and a bad attitude.

That’s where manual firewood splitters come in—giving you a smarter, safer, and more efficient way to split logs without the fuel costs or noise of gas-powered machines.

If you’re ready to upgrade from brute force to brainpower, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about manual firewood splitters, including:

✅ The best manual firewood splitters on the market
✅ Key features to look for when buying one
✅ How to use a manual firewood splitter (so you don’t wreck your hands or dignity)
✅ Who should get one (and who should stick to an axe or hydraulic splitter)

Let’s dive in (but first)…

Manual Firewood Splitters

Not all manual splitters are created equal. Some are great for big, tough logs, while others are better suited for kindling and small jobs. Here are the top-rated manual firewood splitters:

1. Kindling Cracker

???? Best for: Splitting small logs and making kindling
???? Why it’s great: Stationary wedge design—just hit the log with a mallet
???? Max log size: 6.5-inch diameter logs
???? Why you’ll love it: Zero maintenance and safe for all ages. Perfect for campers, cabin owners, and anyone who loves a good bonfire.

Check it out here

Kindling Cracker – Firewood Splitter Review

2. Kindling Cracker XL

???? Best for: Splitting medium logs and making kindling
???? Why it’s great: Stationary wedge design—just hit the log with a mallet
???? Max log size: 9-inch diameter logs
???? Why you’ll love it: Same as the previous one, just a big larger/heavy to accommodate larger log sizes.

Check it out here

Kindling Cracker XL – First Try

Note: These are the only 2 I recommend. Everything else has too many compromises to be considered a top option.

Key Features to Look for in a Manual Firewood Splitter

A good manual firewood splitter should be strong, stable, and safe. Here’s what you should consider before buying:

???? Splitting Mechanism – Hydraulic pump? Slide hammer? Wedge-and-mallet design? Pick one based on your strength and log size needs.

???? Max Log Size – Some splitters handle only small logs for kindling, while others can split thicker, tougher pieces of firewood.

???? Portability – If you need something lightweight for camping or off-grid use, avoid bulky hydraulic models.

???? Durability – Cast iron and hardened steel blades last longer than cheap aluminum or plastic parts.

???? Ease of Use – If your goal is less effort, go for hydraulic splitters or wedge-based designs that don’t require brute force.

How to Use a Manual Firewood Splitter (Without Wrecking Yourself)

Using a manual firewood splitter the right way will keep you safe and make the job much easier. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Prep Your Work Area

✔️ Set up on solid, level ground (concrete or packed dirt works best)
✔️ Wear safety gear – gloves, boots, and eye protection (flying wood chips are no joke)
✔️ Stack logs nearby so you don’t have to stop and reload every few minutes

2. Position the Log

✔️ Place the log upright and centered on the splitter
✔️ If using a wedge-style splitter, align it straight over the grain for a clean break

3. Apply Force

✔️ For hydraulic splitters – Pump the handle until the log splits
✔️ For slide hammer splitters – Lift the hammer and slam it down onto the wedge
✔️ For wedge-style splitters – Strike the log with a heavy mallet until it cracks

4. Remove & Repeat

✔️ Clear the split logs away before placing another one
✔️ If a log doesn’t split completely, rotate it and try again

Pro Tip: Don’t rush. Splitting firewood is about technique, not just strength.

Let the tool do the work!

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Who Should Get a Manual Firewood Splitter?

A manual firewood splitter isn’t for everyone—but it might be perfect for you if:

✅ You want a safer alternative to an axe – If you’re tired of swinging a maul (or just worried about missing your target), a splitter gives you more control and less risk.

✅ You don’t want to deal with gas-powered machines – Hydraulic and electric splitters are great, but they require maintenance, fuel, or electricity. Manual splitters work anywhere.

✅ You need something portable – If you’re heading to a cabin or off-grid property, a small manual wood splitter is easier to transport than a heavy-duty hydraulic model.

✅ You want to save money – Manual splitters cost a fraction of electric or gas-powered splitters. If you’re only splitting firewood for personal use, a $100–$300 splitter will get the job done without breaking the bank.

❌ However…If you need to split massive logs all winter long, you might want to invest in a powered splitter instead. Manual splitters are fantastic for smaller jobs, but they’ll wear you out if you need to process cords of wood regularly.

Final Thoughts: Should You Get a Manual Firewood Splitter?

So if you love the idea of splitting firewood without gas, electricity, or unnecessary effort, a manual firewood splitter is a smart buy. It’s safer than an axe, cheaper than a power splitter. And far more efficient than splitting logs the old-fashioned way.

???? For small logs and kindling? Go for a wedge-based splitter like the Kindling Cracker.
???? For medium-sized logs? A slide hammer splitter gives you controlled power.
???? For big logs? A hydraulic manual splitter is your best bet.

At the end of the day, the right tool makes all the difference. If you want faster, easier, and safer firewood splitting, a manual wood splitter belongs in your shed.

Now, go forth and split wood like a pro. ????????

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

P.s. – I just found out 2 out of 3 Americans don’t feel prepared for a 3 day disaster!!!

I guess this goes to show how modern society continues to embrace ‘living a fragile life.’ What’s crazy is… it’s so easy to fix.

To make sure YOU have the basics, watch our FREE training on “10 Simple Steps To Basic Preparedness” that shows you HOW.

Nothing crazy here… this isn’t doomsday prepping… just the basics every responsible adult should have before a disaster strikes.

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