Bet you never thought you'd see a catastrophic flood in New Orleans in your lifetime, either.
Lifetimes are made up of events - one by one.
Some witness greater events than others.
If the President called for martial law or for military interventions to extent farther than the affected areas, then I'd have a serious problem with him and the US Fedgov.
You may agree to forfeit your freedom from fear of an event that "may" happen, but I prefer not to. You may agree to vest powers that ought not be in one person you trust holding that office NOW, but those powers don't follow that person when they leave that position.
The NEXT person might not be so suitable to your liking.