Hurricanes in the Southeastern US get regarded much the same way as earthquakes (really, tremors) do in California.
To me, if I go to California, every tremor is a “We’re gonna DIE!” moment. Every tremble is 1906 San Francisco or 1994 Northridge. I’m not used to tremors. I don’t “know” them. I haven’t been through hundreds of them. To me, my instinct is that if the ground shakes even a little, buildings are coming down. Meanwhile, native Californians get a chuckle over my skittishness.
Hurricanes and tropical storms (especially the latter) are sort of like that. People not from down here often think first, second, and third of Andrew- and Katrina-level storms when they think of “hurricanes”. That widespread devastation, buildings flattened, 100,000s without homes, etc. is the typical default hurricane. In fact, people who are raised down here have memories of going outside and playing in the winds (sheets of cardboard and roller skates!) during hurricanes and tropical storms. Of days off of school with no light but candles and flashlights. Spending a week eating non-perishable food. Things like that. More inconvenience and discomfort than “imminent threat of death”.