Poll: More Than Half Say Climate Change Behind Severity of Recent Hurricanes

Fifty-five percent of Americans say climate change is responsible for the severity of recent hurricanes, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll.

"In a Pew poll in early September 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, just a quarter of Americans thought climate change likely was responsible for its severity," said a report which accompanied the poll results. Two-thirds said it was more likely 'just the kind of severe weather that happens from time to time.'"

Here are the highlights from the new poll released Thursday:

• 23 percent of Republicans blamed climate change for the strong hurricanes
• 78 percent of Democrats said climate change was responsible for the monster storms
• 56 percent of independents pointed to climate change as the reason behind the severity of the hurricanes

In recent weeks, hurricanes Harvey and Irma hit Texas and Florida, respectively, The Hill noted.

The storms caused more than 200 deaths and $130 billion in damage. Hurricane Maria caused devastating damage in Puerto Rico and elsewhere when it destroyed vital infrastructure.

The poll, conducted Sept. 18-21, sampled 1,002 people. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points.

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