Posted in Nebraska
June 16, 2015
Here Are The 12 Biggest Risks Living In The State of Nebraska
There are a million things to love about living in Nebraska, but we can all agree there’s an element of danger to living in the Cornhusker State, right? Maybe these little reasons aren’t enough to drive us away, but these are some of the things every Nebraskan should watch out for.
The sun seems to shine a little brighter here, doesn't it? Usually that's a good thing, but when you forget the sunscreen it's an extremely painful thing.
When it snows in Nebraska, it rarely just snows...the skies open up and dump enough snow to bury your car within a few hours.
Numbers 1 and 2 can happen on the very same day - no joke. Which means that, at least once or twice a year, you'll end up using your heater and air conditioner on the same day. This confuses and annoys the appliances, so be sure to treat them extra well.
Our state averages nearly 50 tornadoes per year, so we're seasoned experts when it comes to spotting a twister. Just be sure to get into the basement or storm shelter when the winds get strong enough to strip the shingles from your roof.
If it's not out of control wind, it's allergies. Tree and grass pollen and that dreaded goldenrod will bring more than a few miserable tears to your eyes every spring...and then again in the fall. But don't worry! Your allergies will let up as soon as everything freezes, just in time for you to catch a cold.
Heavy winter melt-off and torrential springtime and summer rains contribute to frequent flooding. Some years are much worse than others, but rest assured that if you own property near a lake or river you'll eventually have to deal with an unintended indoor pool.
There are a whole new set of rules you have to follow when driving on gravel vs. pavement. Those of us who learned to drive out in the country know how to handle those rural roads, but to people who have only driven on pavement, gravel can seem like an evil combination of quicksand, ice, and ball bearings under the tires.
If you've lived in Nebraska for any length of time, you know at least a few people who have hit a deer...probably everyone you know who drives, actually. Even if you've escaped that fate yourself so far, rest assured that one evening a deer will come scampering out of the trees right into the path of your moving car. Or, even worse, you'll round a corner and there will be one just standing there in the street, staring you down, daring you to decide in a split second if it's safer to swerve or slam on the brakes.
Snakes! In most parts of Nebraska these slithery critters aren't a concern, but out west the landscape hides four different types of rattlesnakes. Hikers beware - and maybe know where to find the nearest snakebite kit just in case.
If you spend time outdoors in the summer (and, well, who here doesn't?) you know all of the mosquito-repelling tricks. Some of them work, some of them don't - and for an unfortunate part of the population, nothing really keeps the skeeters away and summertime means lots of calamine lotion and baking soda baths.
The unique springtime cycle of melt, puddle, freeze, expand, repeat, wreaks havoc on pavement, causing these holes in the street to just appear overnight. The Midwest has some of the worst potholes in the country...but your mechanic probably reminded you of that when fixing your car's alignment after your last big pothole run-in.
If you're not careful, you too could become a victim of Husker Fever. Symptoms include obsessive wearing of the color red, repeated tailgating at Memorial Stadium on game days, painting your face red and white, having a big red "N" embroidered on your business suits, and being physically unable to stop looking at a television while anything Husker-related is on.
All in all, if these are the worst things we have to deal with to live in Nebraska, it seems like a pretty fair deal. What Nebraska risks did I miss? Let us know in the comments!
