Of course, the precedent for fear was set long ago by “WKRP in Cincinnati.”
Though four months distant now, and on a more serious note, we used to field dozens of 911 calls for NYSEG helicopters checking power lines, NYSP choppers looking for marijuana plots, seaplanes landing in the Hudson River ... ”Really? You saw a helicopter in the sky? Any cars on your road today?” Always thought, never vocalized (sadly).
New York, at least, hits the “See something, say something” line pretty hard.
Sadly, it generally promotes more fear/paranoia than empowerment; gilding the lily, or lipstick on a pig, as it were.