Storms were bad for the pioneers that were traveling in a wagon train because the wagons were hit by lightning a lot. Heavy rain made the rivers overflow. It flooded the land and made it hard to travel in the mud. It was hard to cross a river that was overflowing. Winds from a storm could blow over a wagon.

Storms would frighten the farm animals that were brought along and sometimes they would run away. When the pioneers finally built houses in the towns a storm could blow the roof off of the house or the barn where the animals were kept. The animals could be scared and run away.