Why is the Great Plains region so susceptible to damage by natural hazards such as tornadoes, droughts, and floods? Why is the Great Plains an appropriate location for the development of large-scale energy production from wind? What are some of the most important minerals extracted from the Great Plains region, and where are they found? Why is aging in place such a common decision in the Great Plains as compared to retiring in the Sun Belt states? How did the invention of the steel plow and windmills encourage the expansion of agricultural production in the central United States?