The same phenomenon allows global warming proponents to convince us all that "nothing like this has ever happened before". Personal memory is not much help in deciding how things have been, and human record keeping isn't much better. I'm as vulnerable as anyone, just have to keep reminding myself to get two or three forms of evidence before I buy in to the latest thing.
Have been subscribing to the USGS email list for quite a number of years. I just don't recall a similar sequence as manifested on that email list in all those years.
Thanks.