Several days ago my father called me and sounded very desperate.

My house is going to flood!  What should I do?

I was very concerned, giving the news of flooding here lately, but then thought rationally.

Is there water coming into your home?, I asked.

No.  But I hear on the news that it is going to happen.  They’re showing houses flooded.

Yes, but you live in Seattle where there hasn’t been much flooding and you live on top of a hill.  Did you see any flooding near you?

No, he replied.

He was utterly petrified that his house will float away, but the truth is that the actual flooding occurred a good distance away – to the south and north of us in the valleys.

I think this applies to a lot of news you hear.  Just because you hear doom and gloom does not mean that it applies to you.