This study invstigates the frequency of occurrence of tropical cyclones and land-falling hurricanes in the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico over the four telescoping periods of 1851-2006, 1900-2006, 1950-2006 and 1970-2006. An effort is made to assess the intrinsic modes of variability and trends buried in the data. The question as to whether or not the past decadal increases in overall numbers and intensities of events has past anologues or presents a new paradigmn is addressed in the context of the several modes of variability that emerge from the data. Multiple modes are identified in the time series ranging from inter-annual to decadal to multi-decadal years. Clear and possible relationships with climate factors will be presented and or speculated upon. A "storminess" perspective (or the lack thereof) is introduced which further partitions and segregates the information buried in the time series and offers additional insights into this complex issue.