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Poll: Most Americans See Weather Disasters Worsening

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Nearly three-quarters of Americans see weather disasters,
   like Hurricane Dorian, worsening and most of them blame global warming
   to some extent, a new poll finds.

   And scientists say they're right.

   The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey
   shows 72% of Americans think catastrophic weather is more severe, while
   4% see it as less nasty. About one-quarter say those disasters are
   about as extreme as they always were.

   Half of those who think weather disasters are worsening say it's mainly
   because of man-made climate change, with another 37% who think natural
   randomness and global warming are equally to blame.

   The poll was conducted in mid-August before Dorian formed, pummeled the
   Bahamas and put much of the U.S. East Coast on edge.

   "We continue to loot our environment and it causes adverse weather,"
   said John Mohr, 57, aself-described moderate Republican in Wilmington,
   North Carolina, where he was bracing for Dorian'sarrival.

   On Tybee Island, Georgia, Tony and Debbie Pagan said they rarely
   worried about hurricanes after buying their home nearly 50 years ago.

   Hurricane David in 1979 and Floyd in 1999 threatened them but did
   little damage. The last four years haven't been so kind.

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