Category: Nebraska

The Most Dangerous Insects in Nebraska That Every Prepper Must Know Before SHTF

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Nebraska, Survival Preparedness, Threat AwarenessLeave a comment

A Survival Prepper’s Guide to Tiny Threats That Can End Lives When Society Fails

When most people think about survival threats in Nebraska, they imagine tornadoes ripping across farmland, brutal winter cold, or food shortages during societal collapse. Those are real dangers. But as a survival prepper who has spent decades studying what actually kills people when infrastructure fails, I can tell you this with absolute certainty:

Insects will become one of the most underestimated killers during SHTF.

When hospitals are closed, pharmacies are empty, and emergency services are overwhelmed or gone entirely, something as small as a bite, sting, or parasite can spiral into infection, permanent injury, or death.

Nebraska may not have jungles or deserts, but it does have insects capable of killing, disabling, infecting, and weakening survivors, especially children, the elderly, and the unprepared.

This article is not written to scare you.
It is written to wake you up.

If you live in Nebraska—or plan to bug out through it—you need to understand which insects pose the greatest risk, why they are dangerous, and how to prepare for them when modern medicine is no longer an option.

Why Insects Become More Dangerous During SHTF

In normal times, insect encounters are inconveniences. In collapse scenarios, they become force multipliers of death.

Here’s why:

  • No access to antibiotics
  • No emergency epinephrine for allergic reactions
  • Limited wound care
  • Increased exposure due to outdoor living
  • Breakdown of sanitation
  • Weakened immune systems from stress and malnutrition

Insects don’t need to hunt you. They don’t need intent.
They only need opportunity.

And Nebraska provides plenty of it.

1. Ticks – The Silent Killers of the Midwest

Why Ticks Are Nebraska’s #1 Insect Threat

If I had to name the most dangerous insect in Nebraska from a survival standpoint, ticks would top the list without hesitation.

Ticks don’t kill you quickly.
They kill you slowly—through disease.

Nebraska is home to several dangerous tick species, including:

  • American Dog Tick
  • Blacklegged Tick (Deer Tick)
  • Lone Star Tick

These parasites are expanding their range every year, and climate shifts have made Nebraska more tick-friendly than ever.

Diseases Ticks Can Transmit

In a functioning society, these diseases are serious. In collapse, they are often fatal.

  • Lyme disease
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Anaplasmosis
  • Tularemia
  • Alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy)

Without antibiotics, many of these diseases lead to:

  • Neurological damage
  • Heart complications
  • Chronic pain
  • Immune system failure
  • Death

Survival Reality

A tick bite may go unnoticed for days. By the time symptoms appear, treatment options may be gone.

Ticks are the long-game killers.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Treat clothing with permethrin
  • Perform daily full-body tick checks
  • Carry tick removal tools
  • Learn herbal and alternative antimicrobial protocols
  • Avoid tall grass when possible
  • Keep campsites clear and dry

2. Mosquitoes – Nebraska’s Airborne Plague

More Than Just an Annoyance

Mosquitoes are often dismissed as harmless. That mindset will get people killed during societal collapse.

Nebraska mosquitoes are known carriers of:

  • West Nile Virus
  • Eastern Equine Encephalitis
  • Heartworm (affects animals critical to survival)

West Nile alone has caused fatalities in Nebraska in modern times—with hospitals operating.

Now imagine no hospitals.

Why Mosquitoes Are So Dangerous Post-Collapse

  • They breed fast
  • They thrive in stagnant water
  • They attack at night
  • They weaken already stressed survivors

A fever that lasts a week in SHTF conditions can mean dehydration, delirium, or secondary infection.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Eliminate standing water
  • Sleep under mosquito netting
  • Burn natural repellents (sage, cedar, pine)
  • Wear long sleeves at dusk and dawn
  • Maintain immune strength through nutrition

3. Brown Recluse Spider – The Flesh-Destroyer

Nebraska’s Most Feared Spider

The brown recluse spider exists in Nebraska, especially in southern regions and inside structures.

While not aggressive, its bite can cause serious tissue damage, and in some cases, systemic illness.

Why Brown Recluse Bites Are Deadly During SHTF

  • Necrotic wounds are prone to infection
  • Open sores attract bacteria and insects
  • Healing is slow without medical care

A bite that would be manageable today could become fatal due to infection alone.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Shake out boots, gloves, and clothing
  • Seal sleeping areas
  • Keep bedding elevated
  • Learn wound cleaning and infection control
  • Avoid cluttered shelters

4. Black Widow Spider – Neurotoxic Threat

Not Just a Scary Name

Black widows are present throughout Nebraska and prefer dark, undisturbed places like woodpiles, sheds, and debris.

Their venom attacks the nervous system.

Survival Risk Factors

  • Severe pain can immobilize survivors
  • Muscle spasms and weakness limit mobility
  • No antivenom access during collapse

For elderly or malnourished individuals, the danger increases dramatically.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Wear gloves when handling debris
  • Keep camps organized
  • Avoid reaching into unseen spaces
  • Maintain calcium and magnesium intake

5. Bees, Wasps, and Hornets – The Allergy Killers

The Insect That Kills the Fastest

Bees and wasps don’t usually kill through venom toxicity.
They kill through anaphylaxis.

During SHTF:

  • No EpiPens
  • No ambulances
  • No emergency rooms

One sting can end a life in minutes.

Nebraska’s Aggressive Species

  • Yellowjackets
  • Paper wasps
  • Bald-faced hornets

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Avoid strong scents
  • Keep food sealed
  • Destroy nests carefully during cold months
  • Identify allergy risks in your group
  • Carry antihistamines and natural anti-inflammatories

6. Fire Ants – Expanding Threat

While not historically dominant, fire ants are slowly expanding northward.

Multiple stings can cause:

  • Severe pain
  • Infection
  • Allergic reactions

In a weakened survivor, fire ants can overwhelm quickly.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Avoid disturbed soil
  • Wear boots
  • Treat bites immediately
  • Keep sleeping areas elevated

7. Fleas – The Disease Carriers People Forget

Fleas are more than itchy nuisances.

Historically, they were responsible for plagues that wiped out millions.

Why Fleas Matter in Collapse

  • Thrive on rodents
  • Spread quickly
  • Carry bacterial diseases
  • Multiply in unsanitary conditions

If rodent populations explode post-collapse, flea-borne illness follows.

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Control rodents aggressively
  • Keep bedding clean
  • Use diatomaceous earth
  • Maintain hygiene even when water is scarce

8. Biting Flies – The Blood Loss Factor

Horse flies and deer flies are common in Nebraska and capable of delivering painful bites that bleed.

In survival conditions:

  • Open wounds invite infection
  • Blood loss weakens already fragile bodies

Prepper Countermeasures

  • Wear light-colored clothing
  • Use head nets
  • Cover exposed skin
  • Clean bites immediately

Psychological Warfare: Insects Break Morale

Insects don’t just harm the body.
They attack the mind.

  • Constant itching disrupts sleep
  • Bites lower morale
  • Fear reduces decision-making ability

In survival, mental resilience is as important as physical strength.

Nebraska Medical Preparedness: Your Anti-Insect Survival Kit

Every prepper in Nebraska should stock:

  • Antihistamines
  • Antiseptics
  • Sterile bandages
  • Tick removal tools
  • Permethrin
  • Natural repellents
  • Antibiotic alternatives
  • Wound care manuals

Knowledge weighs nothing.
Ignorance weighs lives.

Remember: Small Threats in Nebraska Can End Big Plans

History shows us a brutal truth:

Civilizations don’t just fall to war and famine. They fall to disease, infection, and neglect of small dangers.

Insects have survived every extinction event.
They will survive whatever comes next.

The question is whether you will.

The Most Dangerous Insects in the State of Nebraska That Could Really Harm You

If you live in Nebraska—or pass through it during uncertain times—you must respect these tiny threats. You must prepare for them. And you must teach others.

Because when the world goes quiet, the buzzing doesn’t stop.

Stay alert.
Stay prepared.
And never underestimate the smallest enemy.

Nebraska’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Nebraska, Nebraska's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Nebraska’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster: A Survivalist’s Hard-Learned Lessons

I’ve driven across deserts where the air could melt rubber, crossed frozen mountain passes where one wrong turn meant an icy death, and crawled through swamps that swallowed tires whole. But nowhere tests your nerves in a disaster like the flat, deceivingly gentle landscapes of Nebraska. It’s a land that hides danger in its simplicity. When the storm hits or the grid goes down, the Cornhusker State becomes a maze of impassable roads, blackouts, and waterlogged ditches.

I’ve spent years on the move, teaching myself how to survive behind the wheel. So take it from someone who’s had a few too many close calls—if you’re trying to get out of Dodge when all hell breaks loose in Nebraska, there are certain roads you’d do best to avoid. But even more importantly, you need to know how to drive when the rules no longer apply.

Let’s dig into the worst roads in Nebraska to be caught on during a crisis, then I’ll walk you through 15 survival driving skills to keep you alive, and 3 emergency hacks when the gas runs dry.

Nebraska’s Disaster-Prone Roads to Avoid

These roads might seem fine under clear skies, but when things turn south—floods, storms, civil unrest, or fuel shortages—they become traps.

1. Highway 275 (Between Norfolk and Fremont)

Flood-prone with poor drainage and aging bridges. One good storm and you’ll find yourself in a watery grave or stuck in an endless reroute.

2. Interstate 80 (Especially Omaha to Lincoln)

It’s a straight shot through the state, and that’s the problem. In a disaster, it’s a magnet for traffic jams, accidents, and panicked evacuees. You’ll be a sitting duck.

3. Highway 6

This two-lane route clogs quickly in emergencies and floods in spring storms. Visibility drops, and the ditch depth can flip your vehicle if you’re not careful.

4. Highway 20 (The Bridges to Nowhere)

In northern Nebraska, the infrastructure can’t handle a deluge. Rural bridges get washed out, and there’s nobody coming to fix them during a statewide disaster.

5. Highway 2 through the Sandhills

Beautiful terrain but treacherous when wet or snowy. No cell service for miles, and breakdowns here mean you’re truly alone.

6. Loup River Valley Roads

These scenic byways turn into mud pits. You’ll sink before you see a soul. Not worth the risk unless you’re packing a winch and 72-hour rations.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Can Save Your Life

If you’ve ever driven in chaos—roads crumbling, people panicking—you know it takes more than guts. It takes skill. These are the moves that have saved me time and again.

1. Threshold Braking

Keep your tires just at the edge of locking. Perfect for wet, icy, or loose gravel situations.

2. Skid Recovery

Turn into the skid, don’t fight it. Let the tires catch naturally. Fighting it just sends you sideways into a ditch.

3. Situational Awareness

Constantly scan your environment. Don’t fixate. One eye on the road, the other on potential threats or alternate exits.

4. Low-Speed Maneuvering

When debris or stalled cars block your path, crawling through tight spaces with precision becomes your ticket out.

5. Hand Signals for Low Visibility

When tail lights are useless in smoke or blackout conditions, knowing and using hand signals for convoy communication is vital.

6. Driving Without Headlights (Stealth Mode)

You don’t always want to be seen. Learn to drive with just enough dash light and moonlight when needed.

7. River Crossing Assessment

If you have to ford water, check depth with a stick and look for current. Never cross a flowing stream above your axle unless it’s life or death.

8. Run-Flat Tire Management

Learn how to keep rolling on compromised tires, and pack tire sealant and an air compressor.

9. High-Centering Recovery

Get off the hump by letting air out of your tires slightly and using traction aids like sand ladders or even floor mats.

10. Using Terrain for Cover

Avoid ambushes or flying debris by hugging terrain contours or parking behind natural barriers.

11. Rearview Bluff

Make your vehicle look like it’s been stripped or burned to deter looters—blackened windows, fake smoke damage, or broken glass on the dash.

12. Car Barricade Breaching

Know how to slowly push aside a stalled vehicle (or other obstruction) without damaging your radiator. Go low, push near the rear quarter panel.

13. Fuel Conservation Driving

Drive in high gear, avoid rapid acceleration, and coast when possible. Every drop counts when the pumps are dry.

14. Defensive Driving Under Fire

Not metaphorical—real bullets. Zigzag, use obstacles as shields, and never stop in the open. Reverse can be just as fast as drive.

15. Escape Route Mapping

Always know three ways out: one obvious, one hidden, one crazy. Think fences you can smash, alleys, or even train tracks.

3 DIY Driving Hacks When You’re Out of Gas

Now let’s talk worst-case: you’re stranded. No gas, no AAA, just a quiet Nebraska road and a long night ahead. Here are three bushcraft-meets-automotive tricks I’ve used in the field.

1. Siphon Every Drop (Even From Yourself)

Keep a siphon hose and fuel-safe container. You’d be shocked how much fuel’s left in “dead” cars, lawn equipment, even abandoned tractors. Pro tip: rural properties often keep fuel tanks near barns. Respect private property, but survival is survival.

2. DIY Ethanol Booster

Corn country, right? If you’re desperate, ethanol or moonshine can work in small doses for older vehicles (pre-2001). Never run it straight, but you can mix it 10–20% with existing gasoline to eke out a few miles. Don’t try this in modern fuel-injected vehicles with sensors—they’ll hate it.

3. Roll and Glide Technique

Find a decline and coast. Seriously. Every foot helps. Push the vehicle onto a slope, shift into neutral, and use that to gain distance or even line of sight to rescue or fuel. Gravity never runs out.

Final Thoughts from a Road-Hardened Nomad

Nebraska’s beauty is deceptive. It looks like open country, a straight shot to safety. But under the pressure of disaster, those long roads twist into traps. With water rushing over bridges, winds flattening fields, and desperate people doing desperate things—you need more than horsepower. You need skill, planning, and a cool head.

I’ve driven out of wildfires, riots, and once, a Category 4 hurricane. But the loneliest and scariest escape I ever made was in the Nebraska Sandhills, with only a half tank of gas, a busted alternator, and the radio dead from EMP interference. I made it out by knowing when to drive, when to hide, and when to ditch the road entirely.

So next time you’re topping off your tank or checking your map, ask yourself: If the world went dark today, would I know how to drive my way out?

If you’re not sure, start practicing. Because in a real disaster, Google Maps won’t save you. But your skills just might.

Nebraska’s Most Treacherous Hiking Trails: The Beauty Is Only Skin Deep

On By The.Daily.ChristianIn Nebraska, Nebraska Survival Prepper, Nebraska's Best Hiking TrailsLeave a comment

Listen, I’ve been hiking for over two decades. I’ve slept under redwood trees with nothing but a tarp, made fires with flint in subzero temps, and navigated Utah’s canyons with just a topo map and instinct. But nothing—and I mean nothing—has tested my grit like the rugged beauty of Nebraska. Most people don’t think of Nebraska when they think of danger. But those of us who spend our time on the trails know better. Out here, the beauty will lull you into a false sense of security—then the land will bite.

Nebraska doesn’t give up its secrets easily. The terrain might look like a rolling sea of prairie grass or gentle blufflands from afar, but up close, it’s a land of steep ravines, sudden weather shifts, tick-infested forests, and snake-hugging underbrush. You don’t come out here without a good knife, a water purification system, and a healthy dose of humility. I’ve seen experienced hikers lose their way when the sun disappears behind a storm front and the wind starts whispering through the cedars.

So here it is—my list of Nebraska’s most treacherous hiking trails. These aren’t just pretty walks in the woods. These are wild, demanding paths where your survival skills matter just as much as your hiking boots. I’ve ranked them not only by their scenic beauty but by the level of preparedness you’ll need to tackle them.

Warning: The beauty is only skin deep. Prepare or perish.

Hiking Trails: Nebraska Hiking Trails

1. Toadstool Geologic Park Trail – Crawford, NE

Alien landscape. Erosion has carved out formations that look like something from Mars. The trail’s rocky terrain makes every step a test of your footing. No shade, no water—bring your own or suffer.

2. Pine Ridge Trail System – Chadron State Park

These trails wind through steep pine-covered ridges with loose scree and sudden drops. Mountain lions roam here. Always be aware of your surroundings.

3. Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area – Turkey Run Trail

Don’t be fooled by the name. These hills are fierce. Turkey Run has sharp switchbacks, exposed cliff faces, and rattlesnakes sunning themselves mid-trail.

4. Smith Falls Trail – Valentine, NE

Beautiful waterfall, but the trail is slippery and heavily trafficked. Add rain, and it becomes a mudslide waiting to happen. One wrong step and you’re tumbling into the canyon.

5. Fort Niobrara Wilderness Trails

Remote, overgrown, and packed with ticks and mosquitoes. The Niobrara River is beautiful, but it’s also a siren. Respect it, or it’ll sweep you away.

6. Saddle Rock Trail – Scotts Bluff National Monument

Steep inclines and tight turns. In summer, this trail becomes an oven. I once saw a guy try to make it without water. He didn’t finish.

7. Indian Cave State Park – Hardwood Trail Loop

Dense forest, aggressive elevation changes, and slick leaves in the fall make this a leg-burner. The cave is cool, but watch for hidden roots—ankle snappers everywhere.

8. Eugene T. Mahoney State Park – Limestone Loop

A surprise hit. Slick limestone, hidden drop-offs, and poorly marked paths. I’ve had to guide more than one lost hiker out of this place.

9. Niobrara State Park – River Trail

A narrow, root-riddled path that runs along steep riverbanks. In spring, it’s a mud trap. In fall, it’s leaf-covered and deceptive.

10. Lake McConaughy Trail System

Sand dunes, blinding sun, and no shelter for miles. Dehydration is your main enemy here, especially during July and August.

11. Platte River State Park – Stone Creek Falls Trail

Pretty at first glance, but heavy rains turn the trail into a slippery mess. I’ve seen people twist ankles on hidden rocks just below the waterline.

12. Fontenelle Forest – History Trail

This one’s deceptive. Lush, green, and inviting—but it hides slippery boardwalks, aggressive mosquitoes, and sudden ravines under thick underbrush.

13. Rock Creek Station State Historical Park Trails

The hills here roll like a bucking bronco. Grass can obscure holes, and the trails are poorly marked. Easy to get turned around.

14. Bessey Ranger District – Dismal Trail

Yes, that’s the name. And it earns it. Hot, dry, remote. The trail can vanish beneath prairie grass. GPS fails more often than not.

15. Ashfall Fossil Beds – Fossil Hills Trail

This trail is exposed and windy. Beautiful view, but I’ve seen people go down with heat exhaustion before they hit the halfway point.

16. Schramm Park State Recreation Area – Geological Trail

Short but savage. Uneven limestone steps and sharp ridgelines. It’s like walking a natural obstacle course.

17. Nebraska National Forest – Scott Lookout Tower Trail

Straight uphill with no cover. Wind will slam into you like a freight train. The view is glorious if you make it.

18. Homestead National Historical Park – Prairie Trail

Wide open prairie might look tame, but storms blow in fast. Lightning, hail, and flash floods. Don’t get caught out here with your pants down.

19. Ponca State Park – Corps of Discovery Trail

Thick woods, ravines, and slick rocks. Insects out here are relentless. I carry netting year-round.

20. Windmill State Recreation Area – Trail Loop

Swampy and mosquito-heavy in the summer. The path is narrow and riddled with sink spots after rain. Not a trail to run barefoot.

A Prepper’s Final Word

Hiking in Nebraska isn’t about just following a line on a map. It’s about respect. Respect for the land, for the forces of nature, and for your own limits. Every time I lace up my boots and throw my bug-out bag over my shoulder, I remind myself of a simple truth: nature doesn’t care if you’re ready—but you should be.

My pack always includes:

  • 2L hydration bladder + iodine tablets
  • Folding blade (carbon steel)
  • Ferro rod + tinder kit
  • First aid kit (including snake bite suction tool)
  • Ultralight tarp
  • Compass + laminated topo map
  • Extra socks and a wool base layer (weather turns quick)
  • Trail mix, jerky, and a little dark chocolate (for morale)
  • Bear spray or sidearm, depending on region

Out there, you’re alone with yourself. Every step you take on Nebraska’s trails is a step into the unknown. You’ll face steep climbs, ankle-breaking roots, and heat that saps the will to move. But you’ll also find something else: the edge of yourself. That’s why I hike. Not to be safe—but to be ready.

So if you’re looking for an easy stroll and a selfie by a waterfall, try somewhere else. But if you’re ready to face trails where your gear, guts, and grit are tested with every mile, then welcome to the most treacherous trails in Nebraska. I’ll see you out there—just try to keep up.

And remember… the beauty? It’s only skin deep.