Some storms fade from memory faster than others. Hurricane Irma did not.
Part of that is because of how many people it affected directly. Another reason is the nonstop media coverage before, during, and after the storm. But there is also something deeper. Irma became a benchmark in people’s minds. It turned into the storm people refer to when they say things like, “We have not seen anything like that since Irma,” or “After Irma, we take hurricane season much more seriously.”
That kind of memory matters.
Big storms often change behavior. After Irma, many people began preparing earlier for hurricane season. Some upgraded windows or generators. Others rethought evacuation plans or paid closer attention to flood risk. Even people who escaped major damage often came away with a different level of respect for what a large storm can do.