I'm not in Florida either so IDK what the local news was saying. But having lived in SE Louisiana most of my life, local news and government always trumpeted the worse possible scenario. So much so that when the big one actually did come, many were shocked at what the real deal can bring.
I think social media plays a part in this too. How many times have we all rolled our eyes at people posting those 2' snowstorm 5-day model runs on Facebook and such that rarely verifies? Or the 200mph 3K NAM for a hurricane?