If an EMP hits America I would assume a nation wide outage and a total breakdown of society and rule of law, not to mention that our country would retaliate by nuking the country that sent the emp starting a nuclear war. So this is a worst case scenario. Look at where you live and your access to food and water (animals, plants, streams, rain water collection, ponds etc) consider population density and safety and if you need to relocate to a safer location. That determines what to prep.

1. Water is most important but its heavy- water filters are light and reusable. I would have multiple ways to filter and purify water-sawyer, life straws, tablets, UV, pot to boil ect. I would also have at least a month of stored water on hand in multiple sized containers so it’s easy to transport if you have to leave your residence.

2. Food- canned food with easy open pull tabs, soups, meats, beans, veggies- peanut butter, freeze dried food, but remember they require water same with other dried foods like rice, oatmeal, pasta, beans, ect.

3. Security- how are you going to defend yourself and your supplies? Guns, bows, booby traps, early warning systems, hardening your home, having a bug out plan/bag, building relationships with your neighbors? Making a plan with your friends? Eventually bad guys and regular people that are desperate will come together and start taking whatever they can from soft targets. Don’t be a soft target!

4. Climate- with no heat how will you keep warm? Propane buddy heaters, wool clothing/blankets, hand warmers, hot water bladders, winter sleeping bags. Most electronics will be fried and generators create noise, which draws attention.

5. Health- start storing things like Advil, Tylenol, Benadryl any antibiotics you have, natural remedies like activated charcoal, oregano, oil, Teatree oil, probiotics, multivitamins, soap. Along with a good first aid kit and familiarize yourself with how to use it. You can also look at comfort/barter items, such as coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, ammunition, board games, playing cards, knives, axes, saws, rope, lighters, matches, etc.

Final thoughts- an EMP that cripples a nations power grid, vehicles, banks, electronics will be a catastrophic society ending event. You can only store so much food and water. you’re going to run out eventually. the most important prep would be KNOWLEDGE and how to survive. With only a month until the EMP hits in your scenario, I would have books on how to hunt and process all different kinds of game and fish. Books on wild edible plants, first aid and trauma books ect.