https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-arlene-atlantic-april-2017
Tropical Storm Arlene, the first named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, has developed in the north Atlantic Ocean. Arlene formed from Subtropical Depression One, which developed on Wednesday, and then became Tropical Depression One on Thursday morning.
Arlene is the first tropical storm in April to exist in the Atlantic Basin since Ana in 2003, which also formed on April 20, just a few hours earlier. It's also the farthest north a tropical storm has formed in the Atlantic so early in the season.

Prior to the beginning of the satellite era, which began in the 1970s, this type of storm was practically impossible to detect, according to the National Hurricane Center, so it is possible that others have occurred prior to 1970. 
This is the third consecutive year a system has formed in the Atlantic before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season.


Preppers can sit back and laugh.

Hey look, a storm out in the ocean.  Not impacting anyone,  but let's see how much hype we can generate.

Meh.

After Jersey or whatever got hit with that one..the northeast now feels compelled to go chicken little on day one.
It was the same after nola...
Omg it's  going west...it's gonna kill us all...
Has been replaced with
Omg it's coming right for us (in a Boston or Jersey accent).

Meanwhile....
Everyone south of NC just says..
Fuck me...not again....
And
All the transplants in Florida freak out a but every generator and piece of plywood in 30seconds.

That's what happens when thousands of people who are dependent on electricity and gasoline lose them for two weeks.

They failed to prepare for that and still have not prepared for a similar events... why would anyone be surprised about them going ape shit as soon as the news mentions a storm?

I'm not shocked at all. 
In fact. For every one we've had here, it's always the transplants that go into freak mode.

But it can he broke down like this.
Native- yup,gas up the genny,extra beer,water...etc. let's ride this sucker out.
Newbie transplant-  meh...it won't hit us..and ill get a hotel anyway
Seasoned transplant - every Lowe's I've been to has no gas cans or plywood...

Then after a non event ...everyone turns to newbie more.


Our last one here,we lucked out big time. As in if it didn't turn east Like it did..most of the east coast from oak hill to north of jac/south GA would have been fucked hard.
Our saving grace is the fact our state/counties/cities have plans and resources to deal with it.
Its akin to snow storms in Georgia,and everything closing.
Up in NJ etc, cities/counties are ready for it.

The attitudes of the people are pretty much the same. Location is the only differences imho.