Indeed, the press just misinterpreted the actual research.
But there is a twist on that.
The researchers actually said that hurricanes would not be more numerous when global warming effects increase. The twist is that it is likely that the less numerous hurricanes will be much stronger.
The very ironic thing was to see reports from FOX and others claiming that the recent hurricane activity discredited the scientists when it actually was confirming the peer reviewed research.
Having said that, it would be extremely unlikely to see disasters like Galvestone * (worst human loss than New Orleans had) as warnings and path prediction are more accurate now than like in the old times.
I’m kind curious if Phil can imagine having a conversation in his youth with his 90 year-old grandpa, and asking the old man if the hard times in the 1930s were a sign God was displeased with man’s sins. Would the old man agree, firmly believing that in his own youth in the 1850s, men were nobler?