I've never been to Florida. I know it once had in the swamps a very complex ecology that has been severely impaired by developement.
Human sense of guilt due to calamity is one of the ancient manifestations of religion that survive down to this moment. Sometimes though I get a little depressed when I realize how this superstitiousness survives as is amply demonstrated here at EvC. So it's not a matter of education.
The primitive psychological functions of the brain are often more potent than it's more recent rational functions. That is my understanding at the moment, anyway.