You do have a point there (well, maybe not entirely on social media), but science and safety go hand in hand, and in this case I do not understand why discussing the more technical aspects of a potential outbreak, e.g., probabilistic, is off limits. In general there is also a fine line between undue complacency and unwarranted fear. While I can definitely agree that downplaying an event can be dangerous, I find that there is just as much risk in giving vent to hype, especially in today’s conditions. Our ancestors used to be very resilient for thousands of years, yet today we have things such as “trigger warnings” and “safe spaces.”
People have recovered from major catastrophes in the past, including natural, with far fewer resources than we have today. Today we almost have too many resources, or the wrong kinds of resources—maybe even disproportionate and/or inappropriate. Life itself is risky and miraculous, even in its smallest, most innocuous aspects. You are correct about the variables that can yield a wide array of hazards under various circumstances, however. On the other hand, by taking personal responsibility one can make some reasonable progress toward mitigating impacts from comparatively minor events, e.g., low-end* tornadoes.
*EF0/1