Art has a tendency to manufacture events for his audience. I remember when he got spooked in the late 90's by crystal skulls, that went on for a year and a half. Just after that he was actually pranked by a pirate radio op on New Years Eve '99, who had him convinced the space invasion was happening. Art broke into his show to put that one live on the air.
Bell usually pulls the "My family is in danger" bit once or twice a year. Got to get that affiliate count up.