Cedar Rapids Iowa rates high in many "best of" categories and it's no surprise. It's a great place to live. But there are some cold, terrifying truths to accept about living in the Midwest.

Sinkholes. They are a rare but frightening reality in Iowa. The earth opens up and can swallow trees, cars, and homes! Blame many of them on old abandoned mines dug in the early years of our American history.

Farming accidents. According to OSHA, about 243 agricultural workers suffer a serious lost-work-time injury every day. The leading cause of death for farm workers is tractor overturns. But its not the only danger, and the risk of injury is higher than average making it a dangerous occupation.

Iowa Farmers Harvest Crops As Colder Weather Brings Season's End Near
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Poisonous spiders. While relatively rare in Iowa, there are two dangerous spiders to be aware of, the brown recluse and black widow. Both have been found in our state and whose bite can cause serious illness. We all know most spiders are not only harmless but also quite beneficial to our environment, so try to "live and let live".

Australia's Deadliest Animals
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Snakes. Yes, there are some venomous snakes in Iowa, along with many harmless ones. The goal is to know the difference, and we're here to help with a link to help you identify which is which. I try to steer clear of ALL snakes, just out of respect. And fear. There, I've said it.

Historic Trust Releases List Of Most Endangered US Places
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Tornados. Iowa is blessed with four wonderful seasons and we get "one extra" in Cedar Rapids. Its a matter of opinion that "tornado season" is one of these five seasons. But tornado season is a reality here and it's always unpredictable.  It is the number one of Iowa's Top Terrifying Truths.

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