Oklahoma’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On June 18, 2025 By The.Daily.ChristianIn Oklahoma, Oklahoma Survival Prepper, Oklahoma's Worst RoadsLeave a comment

Oklahoma’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster – And How to Escape Alive

By a Well-Traveled Survivalist

I’ve driven through wildfire smoke so thick it turned day to night. I’ve had angry mobs pound on my hood, forded flooded roads where only alligators belonged, and maneuvered past twisted wrecks on broken highways. Let me tell you something straight: no matter how good your bug-out bag is or how much water you’ve stashed, if you can’t drive your way out when the heat’s on, you’re already dead in the water.

Now, let’s talk Oklahoma—a land of brutal tornadoes, torrential rains, ice storms that shut everything down, and enough open space to vanish into if you know what you’re doing. But it’s also a place where the roads betray the unprepared. Infrastructure here isn’t designed for mass evacuations, and even the most seasoned drivers can get trapped on the wrong stretch of pavement. So buckle in. I’m going to walk you through the worst roads in Oklahoma during a disaster, the skills you need to survive behind the wheel, and how to keep moving when your gas runs dry.

Oklahoma’s Worst Roads in a Disaster

I-35 – Oklahoma City to Norman and Beyond
The spine of the state. It clogs instantly during mass movement. One overturned semi in a storm and you’re boxed in for hours.
I-44 – Tornado Alley’s Trap
From Lawton to Tulsa, this road slices through storm central. It’s surrounded by low-lying areas prone to flash flooding.
I-40 – Cross-State Death Funnel
Wide open, windy, and exposed—especially across the western plains. When tornadoes touch down, debris gets whipped into vehicles like shrapnel.
US-69 – McAlester to Muskogee Corridor
Two-lane bottlenecks meet erratic traffic. Heavy storms routinely knock out lights and signage.
Turner Turnpike – OKC to Tulsa
Sounds convenient until you’re stuck with toll booths and zero shoulder space to escape a wreck or gridlock.
US-412 – Wind Shear Highway
High elevation sections turn into white-knuckle drives during ice storms or high crosswinds.
US-59 – Flood-Prone Backcountry
Low water crossings near Sallisaw and Poteau make it unpredictable in spring. Flash floods hit hard and fast.
OK-9 – South OKC to Norman
Suburban sprawl and narrow lanes make for confusion and chaos when lights go out or intersections fail.
OK-3 (Northwest Expressway)
An urban escape route for OKC folks, but everyone has the same idea. Wrecks, stalled cars, and blocked intersections pile up quick.
US-81 – Grain Hauler’s Corridor
Filled with slow rigs, agricultural machinery, and limited passing lanes. One wrong move and the line behind you builds fast.

15 Survival Driving Skills That Save Lives

Throttle Control
Panic makes people mash pedals. Learn to feather your gas—smooth inputs keep your tires gripping in mud, ice, and debris.
Reading Terrain Fast
Scan for soft shoulders, water depth, drop-offs. Know if you’re about to dive into a ditch or sinkhole before you commit.
Escape Route Mapping
Always carry a physical map. GPS lies. Signal drops. And some of the best routes don’t even show up on an app.
Driving Without Street Lights
Practice night driving with only parking lights or no lights on moonlit nights—especially if you’re moving stealth.
High-Centering Avoidance
Know your vehicle’s ground clearance. Avoid cresting debris piles or road medians that can leave you stuck on your frame.
River Ford Judgment
If water is fast and touching your bumper, turn back. But slow, shallow water (6 inches or less)? Low gear and don’t stop.
Skid Recovery
Whether it’s ice or wet clay, know how to steer into the slide and recover control. Panic spinning only makes it worse.
Two-Tire Recovery
Ever had two tires drop off the pavement? Don’t jerk the wheel. Ease back onto the road gradually.
Quick U-Turns in Tight Spaces
Learn how to spin your vehicle around in a pinch—especially with limited room and traffic pressure behind.
Dead Reckoning Navigation
When GPS and cell towers go, your brain better know the compass. Read the sun. Use landmarks. Get oriented.
Hood and Mirror Discipline
Keep your hood clear. Check mirrors constantly. You’re not just looking at cars—you’re watching for threats, mobs, or road hazards.
Barricade Breach Planning
Think like an operator. Is the barrier manned? Wooden or steel? Can you hit a low point or shoulder and bypass safely?
Silent Evasion Tactics
Kill your engine when scouting on foot. Coast in neutral down slopes. Sound attracts attention—keep your vehicle quiet when needed.
Fuel Conservation Driving
Drive slow, shift early, coast when you can. Keep RPMs low to stretch that last gallon of gas like it’s your lifeline.
Mechanical First Aid
Basic roadside repair knowledge is gold. Swap belts, patch tires, jump a dead battery, or bypass a blown fuse with a paperclip.

3 DIY Survival Driving Hacks When You Run Out of Gas

1. Gravity-Fed Fuel Siphon (No Suction Needed)
Carry 6-8 feet of clear tubing and a 2-gallon container. Drop one end deep into a donor vehicle’s tank, fill the hose with fuel manually, and lower the other end into your container. Gravity does the rest. No mouth-siphoning needed.

2. Propane to Gasoline Conversion (For Older Engines)
Some older carbureted vehicles can run on propane with a simple regulator and line adapter. If you’ve got camping propane tanks and the right rig, this can buy you escape miles in a pinch.

3. Ethanol Burn Trick (Rural Area Only)
Some farm towns keep high-purity ethanol or E85. If you’re in an older car not too picky about octane, you can mix ethanol 50/50 with gasoline to get home. Watch your fuel lines—it runs hot and lean.

Bonus Tips from the Road

Carry Jerry Cans – But Hide Them
Thieves look for visible fuel. Mount internally or black out the cans and store low-profile.
Two-Way Radio Beats Cell Phones
CBs or handheld ham radios keep you in contact even when the towers fall silent.
Camouflage Counts
Don’t drive a decked-out survival truck screaming “I’m prepared.” Subtle wins. A dented old pickup draws fewer eyes.
One Road, One Chance
Never back yourself into a single-exit road unless you know you can blast out in reverse or on foot. Always think: “If it closes behind me, how do I get out?”

Final Thoughts From Behind the Wheel

I’ve met people who spent years prepping gear, stashing supplies, and building bunkers—but forgot how to drive when the power went out or the roads flooded. Survival on the road isn’t about horsepower or tactical decals. It’s about brains, calm, and skill.

In Oklahoma, disasters don’t come with much warning. One minute the sky’s blue, the next it’s green, and then it’s gone. When that moment comes, you don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of training.

So train hard. Drive smart. Keep your eyes on the road—and never, ever trust that the pavement will be there tomorrow.

Nebraska’s Worst Roads to Drive on During a Disaster

On June 2, 2025 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.

TheDailyChristian

Tag: off-grid vehicle prep