We are 10 days away from the most consequential deadline in this conflict so far.
On March 26, President Trump extended the pause on striking Iranian energy infrastructure to April 6. This is the second extension. The first was on March 22. Each time, the stated condition has been the same: Iran must agree to let commercial shipping transit safely through the Strait of Hormuz, or the US will target Iranian power plants and energy facilities.
Iran's position, as of today, has not moved. Tehran rejected the US 15-point ceasefire proposal as "maximalist and unreasonable." Iran's counter-proposal demands IRGC control over the Strait of Hormuz, which is a non-starter for the US. Pakistan is mediating, but a senior Iranian official told Reuters that "there is still no arrangement for negotiations, and no plan for talks appears realistic at this stage."
This article is not about predicting what will happen on April 6. Nobody knows. This article is about preparing your household for either outcome, because the preparation is the same regardless.
The Two Scenarios
Scenario A: A Deal Happens
If Iran and the US reach some form of agreement before April 6, you will likely see oil prices drop, gas prices begin to stabilize, and shipping lanes gradually reopen over a period of weeks.
But "deal" does not mean "everything goes back to normal." Supply chains have been disrupted for nearly a month. Medication pipelines are strained. Fertilizer shipments have been delayed. Shipping insurance rates are still elevated. Even in the best-case scenario, the economic effects of this disruption will persist for 2 to 3 months after the Strait reopens.
The IEA has warned that strategic petroleum reserves have been drawn down significantly during this conflict. Rebuilding those reserves will keep demand (and prices) elevated even after supply normalizes.
What this means for you: Even if a deal happens, the price increases you are seeing at the pump, at the grocery store, and on your utility bills are not going to snap back to pre-conflict levels overnight. Budget accordingly.
Scenario B: The Deadline Passes Without a Deal
If April 6 arrives and there is no agreement, the US has signaled it will begin striking Iranian energy infrastructure, specifically power plants and potentially oil facilities. Iran has vowed retaliation if its energy infrastructure is targeted.
This escalation would likely push oil well above its previous peak of $126, potentially to $130 to $150 depending on the scope of the strikes and Iran's response. Energy analysts at Goldman Sachs and the Dallas Federal Reserve have modeled scenarios where sustained Hormuz closure plus energy infrastructure damage could keep oil above $120 through summer.
For households, this means:
- Gas prices nationally could exceed $5 to $6, with California and other high-cost states seeing $7+
- Electricity costs would rise as natural gas prices spike (a significant portion of US electricity is generated from natural gas)
- Food prices would accelerate as the fertilizer supply chain takes another hit
- The probability of infrastructure disruptions increases as both sides escalate cyber and kinetic operations
What this means for you: The preparations we have been recommending since February are not optional anymore. The 90/14/500 framework is the minimum.
Your 10-Day Action Plan (March 27 to April 5)
Regardless of which scenario plays out, these steps protect your household. If a deal happens, you've lost nothing. If it doesn't, you are ahead of 90% of families.
Days 1-3 (March 27-29): Secure the Essentials
Prescriptions. If you have not already requested 90-day prescription fills, do it today. Call your doctor's office or pharmacy. The medication supply clock is ticking and the window is narrowing. Pharmacies in some regions are already reporting sporadic shortages on high-volume generics.
Pantry. Add $30 to $50 of shelf-stable staples to your regular grocery run this week. Rice, dried beans, canned vegetables, oatmeal, pasta, cooking oil, peanut butter. You are not stockpiling. You are buying 10 to 14 days ahead of your normal consumption at this week's prices instead of next month's prices. Full grocery strategy here.
Cash. If you do not have at least $500 in small bills set aside, get it from the ATM. Here's why this matters. If $500 is not feasible, $200 is better than nothing. $100 is better than nothing. Any cash is better than no cash.
Days 4-6 (March 30 to April 1): Harden Your Information
Write down your critical numbers. Insurance policy numbers, bank account numbers, medication lists, doctor contact information, pharmacy phone numbers, emergency contacts. On paper. In one location. If your phone is dead and the internet is down, can you still access the information you need to function? If not, fix that this weekend.
Download offline resources. Our offline information kit guide walks you through downloading Wikipedia, maps, and reference materials for offline use. This takes 30 minutes and requires no technical skill.
Review your insurance. Do you know what your homeowner's or renter's insurance actually covers? Do you know your deductibles? Do you know how to file a claim without internet access? Find your policy documents and put them with your critical information.
Days 7-10 (April 2-5): Communication and Continuity
Establish a family communication plan. If cell networks are congested or down for 24 to 48 hours, how does your family reach each other? Pick two meeting points (one near your home, one outside your neighborhood). Designate an out-of-area contact. Make sure every family member knows the plan without needing to look at a phone. Step-by-step guide here.
Check your vehicle. Fill your tank. Check your tire pressure. Make sure your registration and insurance cards are in the glove box. If you need an oil change, get it done this week rather than gambling on availability and pricing in two weeks.
Lock in utility rates. If your electricity or natural gas provider offers a fixed-rate plan, now is the time. Our energy guide explains how to check and what to look for.
What April 6 Does Not Change
Regardless of what happens on that date, several things remain true:
- The supply chain is damaged. Even a full ceasefire tomorrow does not restore a month of disrupted shipping overnight. Prices will remain elevated for weeks to months.
- The precedent is set. The Strait of Hormuz has now been demonstrated as a viable tool of economic warfare. Whether this conflict ends in April or August, the world's energy architecture has been permanently changed by this month.
- Your household's resilience is your responsibility. FEMA, Ready.gov, and the Red Cross all recommend that every household be prepared to function independently for a minimum of 72 hours. The current situation makes that recommendation more urgent, but it was always the baseline.
The families who are preparing now will manage whatever comes next. The families who are waiting for the news to tell them what to do will be reacting instead of planning.
You have 10 days. Use them.
Build the Full System
If this article is making you realize that your household's critical information is scattered across phones, email accounts, and memory, you are not alone. That is the normal state for most American families. It is also the most dangerous one during a disruption.
The free risk assessment at hrdcopy.com analyzes your specific household situation (location, family size, medical needs, housing type) and generates a tailored preparedness checklist. If you want to go further, it builds a complete printed emergency manual with every protocol, contact number, and document your household needs, organized in one place, accessible without power or internet.
Either way: start the 10-day plan today. April 6 is coming whether you're ready or not.