Speaking from last year's experience with hurricanes, I can tell you that when you haven't been hit with one in decades, you forget all about how much damage they're capable of inflicting. You also tend to get the "It won't hit here, it'll turn and go somewhere else" attitude.
Once a major hurricane hits your area directly, it all comes back very quickly.
Paraphrase: "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it die".
(apologies to George Santayana)