From crazy, unpredictable weather to suicidal deer, here are the nine biggest risks of living in Iowa. But, they say that with great risk comes great reward, and as far as the Hawkeye State is concerned, the risks of living in Iowa are far outweighed by the rewards, making moving to Iowa worth the gamble.

  1. Suicidal deer will target your car.

State Farm/Flickr Or maybe they just have really bad timing… either way, these things end up doing a lot of costly damage to cars and even cause harm to motorists. Luckily we Iowans have honed our deer-avoiding skills to minimize accidents.

  1. Ticks will feed off of your lifeblood.

Fairfax County/Flickr These little devils not only leave you with a nasty bite, but they can cause many different illnesses and diseases, such as Lyme Disease.

  1. ….And mosquitos will join them.

John Tann/Flickr If you have skin and you go outside during the summer, you will be attacked by mosquitos. It’s just a fact. That’s why we Iowans always keep our arsenal loaded with bug spray.

  1. Iowa’s fifth season: Roadwork Season.

.Chris Lee/Flickr The days are bright and warm, the birds are singing, and the air is filled with a melody of deafening construction equipment.

  1. For those who live in rural Iowa, there’s a whole different kind of traffic jam: A tractor jam.

Robert Couse-Baker/F;ickr You’re driving along the highway going 60 when all of a sudden, you have to slam on your breaks and slow down to about 30 mph. There is a line of cars in front of you and who should be leading that line? A tractor. You, my friend, just got caught in a tractor jam.

  1. During winter, the roads turn into a giant ice skating rink.

Hanna Sörensson/Flickr Experience driving on these roads can make it a little less stressful, but there will always be that person who underestimates the ice and ends up scaring the crap out of everyone else as they slide all over the road before landing in a ditch.

  1. And spring means Tornado Season.

©UCAR/Flickr Although many of us like to stand outside and watch them, they can be deadly and destructive. Each year, some town gets hit with one of these, and it ends up doing a lot of damage.

  1. Summers aren’t so bad…. except for the humidity.

GillyFace/Flickr The heat isn’t so bad, but the humidity makes stepping outside like going into a very large, outdoor sauna.

  1. When it rains, it floods.

doucett2/Flickr It seems like almost every year we get floods in Iowa. There was the flooding in Ames in 2010, the flood in Burlington in 2014, and the Iowa Flood in 2008, which hit most of the rivers in eastern Iowa, flooding Cedar Rapids and Iowa City the worst.

So, what do you think? Are the risks of living in Iowa worth it? That was a trick question. Of course, our great state is worth all the risks! What are some other dangerous things in Iowa residents may run into? What would keep you from moving to Iowa? Tell us!

State Farm/Flickr

Or maybe they just have really bad timing… either way, these things end up doing a lot of costly damage to cars and even cause harm to motorists. Luckily we Iowans have honed our deer-avoiding skills to minimize accidents.

Fairfax County/Flickr

These little devils not only leave you with a nasty bite, but they can cause many different illnesses and diseases, such as Lyme Disease.

John Tann/Flickr

If you have skin and you go outside during the summer, you will be attacked by mosquitos. It’s just a fact. That’s why we Iowans always keep our arsenal loaded with bug spray.

.Chris Lee/Flickr

The days are bright and warm, the birds are singing, and the air is filled with a melody of deafening construction equipment.

Robert Couse-Baker/F;ickr

You’re driving along the highway going 60 when all of a sudden, you have to slam on your breaks and slow down to about 30 mph. There is a line of cars in front of you and who should be leading that line? A tractor. You, my friend, just got caught in a tractor jam.

Hanna Sörensson/Flickr

Experience driving on these roads can make it a little less stressful, but there will always be that person who underestimates the ice and ends up scaring the crap out of everyone else as they slide all over the road before landing in a ditch.

©UCAR/Flickr

Although many of us like to stand outside and watch them, they can be deadly and destructive. Each year, some town gets hit with one of these, and it ends up doing a lot of damage.

GillyFace/Flickr

The heat isn’t so bad, but the humidity makes stepping outside like going into a very large, outdoor sauna.

doucett2/Flickr

It seems like almost every year we get floods in Iowa. There was the flooding in Ames in 2010, the flood in Burlington in 2014, and the Iowa Flood in 2008, which hit most of the rivers in eastern Iowa, flooding Cedar Rapids and Iowa City the worst.

The dangerous things in Iowa don’t end with those mentioned above. There are quite a few more, including these terrifying bugs in Iowa.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In Iowa July 28, 2022 Daniella DiRienzo What are the best things about living in Iowa? The risks of living in Iowa are far outweighed by the perks of living in the Hawkeye State. There are so many wonderful things about living in Iowa, including four seasons. The seasons in Iowa are prominent and distinct, giving residents the chance to enjoy beautiful spring weather, colorful fall foliage, warm summers, and cold winters. In addition to the ever-changing weather, those that live in the Hawkeye State get to enjoy a thriving art scene, which includes everything from arts and crafts fairs to art museums and exhibits. The perks of living in Iowa don’t end with weather and the arts, though. Another huge perk of living in Iowa is the people! That’s right; the Hawkeye State’s residents are among its biggest assets, and that’s because they’re known for being exceptionally friendly and willing to help those in need. What unique words and phrases do people in Iowa say? Many don’t realize it, but Iowans have a language all their own. It’s true; there are certain words and phrases that are unique to the region, such as knee-high by the Fourth of July, which is a popular saying among farmers in the Midwest when referring to the growth of corn crops. Squinnies, which means squirrel, is another common term in Iowa. The unique words and phrases don’t end there, though. Kybo is another term Iowans use regularly. The word might seem foreign, but it just means port-a-potty.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In Iowa

July 28, 2022

Daniella DiRienzo

What are the best things about living in Iowa? The risks of living in Iowa are far outweighed by the perks of living in the Hawkeye State. There are so many wonderful things about living in Iowa, including four seasons. The seasons in Iowa are prominent and distinct, giving residents the chance to enjoy beautiful spring weather, colorful fall foliage, warm summers, and cold winters. In addition to the ever-changing weather, those that live in the Hawkeye State get to enjoy a thriving art scene, which includes everything from arts and crafts fairs to art museums and exhibits. The perks of living in Iowa don’t end with weather and the arts, though. Another huge perk of living in Iowa is the people! That’s right; the Hawkeye State’s residents are among its biggest assets, and that’s because they’re known for being exceptionally friendly and willing to help those in need. What unique words and phrases do people in Iowa say? Many don’t realize it, but Iowans have a language all their own. It’s true; there are certain words and phrases that are unique to the region, such as knee-high by the Fourth of July, which is a popular saying among farmers in the Midwest when referring to the growth of corn crops. Squinnies, which means squirrel, is another common term in Iowa. The unique words and phrases don’t end there, though. Kybo is another term Iowans use regularly. The word might seem foreign, but it just means port-a-potty.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The risks of living in Iowa are far outweighed by the perks of living in the Hawkeye State. There are so many wonderful things about living in Iowa, including four seasons. The seasons in Iowa are prominent and distinct, giving residents the chance to enjoy beautiful spring weather, colorful fall foliage, warm summers, and cold winters. In addition to the ever-changing weather, those that live in the Hawkeye State get to enjoy a thriving art scene, which includes everything from arts and crafts fairs to art museums and exhibits. The perks of living in Iowa don’t end with weather and the arts, though. Another huge perk of living in Iowa is the people! That’s right; the Hawkeye State’s residents are among its biggest assets, and that’s because they’re known for being exceptionally friendly and willing to help those in need.

What unique words and phrases do people in Iowa say?

Many don’t realize it, but Iowans have a language all their own. It’s true; there are certain words and phrases that are unique to the region, such as knee-high by the Fourth of July, which is a popular saying among farmers in the Midwest when referring to the growth of corn crops. Squinnies, which means squirrel, is another common term in Iowa. The unique words and phrases don’t end there, though. Kybo is another term Iowans use regularly. The word might seem foreign, but it just means port-a-potty.