Hmm.
In the past, trees were not cut. The seats were not flying from the balconies. Yes, the climate changes every 50 years. But I think these things are not quite normal in the steppe in a continental climate.
Discussion
It wasn't that long ago that the north American landmass was under glaciers. There was so much water contained on the land that when it melted and drained into the oceans, the oceans rose 300ft.