Or to social anxiety. Catatrophism carries with it the fear it could happen at any time. Once again I do not insist. It is just an undeveloped thought. A great thinker once said that "physics is just an exegesis of our world view ."
While I'm not a Catastrophist (after Velikovsky), I nevertheless of the opinion that catastrophes have decidedly shaped our world. And yes, Terra Firma and our fragile veneer of civilization are sitting ducks for any future impacts.