The climate of fear you refer to is, in a sense, unnecessary. Heightened alertness will in all likelihood avail nothing in the way of prevention.

Suppose lightning hit a small town's field of softball players in the midst of a game, sending several to the hospital. The village then bans all further softball games. Or perhaps puts up signs everywhere warning people to constantly scan the sky for ominous clouds. Or searches everyone purchasing seats at further games, to see if they are carrying metallic objects that might draw another bolt down from the sky.

And maybe there are no further bolts in the field. "Ah, our preventive measures worked!"

Post hoc ergo propter hoc.