DeSantis rejects role of climate change in hurricanes, cites history of strong storms

In the aftermath of two hurricanes hitting Florida in a matter of weeks, GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis disputed the narrative that climate change is leading to stronger storms. 

“There is precedent for all this in history,” DeSantis said Thursday. “It is hurricane season. You are going to have tropical weather.”

Environmental activists appear to be pushing the dual hurricanes, Helene and Milton, as evidence that climate change is a serious issue ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 

Climate scientists also continue to push the issue despite a history of exaggerating claims about warming global temperatures. 

DeSantis, who was criticized by activists and Democrats for removing climate goals from the state statutes to prioritize affordability and reliability rather than "climate change," pushed back on these claims in a press briefing after Hurricane Milton's landfall earlier this week. 

One reported asked the governor Thursday whether the several strong tornados that struck the state ahead of Milton's arrival were unusual, DeSantis said, "You can go back and find tornadoes through all of human history” and cited powerful historical hurricanes that hit the state.

“I just think people should put this in perspective,” he said. “They try to take different things that happen with tropical weather and act like it’s something. There is nothing new under the sun.”

Powerful hurricanes have impacted the United States throughout its history. In 1900, a Category 4 storm slammed into Galveston, Texas, killing 8,000 and levels thousands of buildings. A similar storm hit Miami, Florida, in 1926 with a much lower death toll of between 373 and 800 people