Storm Surge History

 The fall and winter of 2012-2013 brought severe weather to the Northeast region of the US. Hurricane Sandy caused considerable hardship and damage everywhere, especially focused around the New York City area. However, with winds and waves from the northeast, Plum Island was also seriously affected.  Following the devastation, a group of local scientists, government employees, activists, and concerned citizens gathered in the spring of 2013 to discuss the devastation caused by the fall and winter storms. 

These meetings resulted in the founding of Storm Surge as a non-profit, citizen-volunteer group during the summer of 2013.  Storm Surge was launched next to a Sandy hurricane-related high-water mark in the Cashman Park parking lot in Newburyport on the bank of the Merrimack River, on September 19th, 2013, with officials attending.

The original purpose of the organization was to encourage and support the communities along the Merrimack River, and along the Great Marsh, to prepare for the consequences of sea level rise, extreme weather events, and long-term climate change.

The vision of Storm Surge was to be a science-based, government-linked, community-outreach, and education-related organization. Storm Surge was and is entirely volunteer-run.

The structure of the organization included a Steering Committee and various working committees. These committees included science, community outreach, governmental, and possibly participants for web, database, and archive management.  The Steering Committee was composed on the committee leaders and a chair person.  As one of the founding members, Mike Morris was unanimously voted Chair of the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee has, throughout Storm Surge’s existence, served as a conduit and clearing house for all general members’ concerns and proposals, approving and coordinating Storm Surge projects, messaging and developing strategies that promote Storm Surge’s purpose and vision.

As part of Storm Surge’s community outreach and education, various speakers were invited to address the community which has led to an annual Speaker Series.  The first of many presentations offered over the following years by prominent scientists and researchers, was given by Bill Sargent, a Storm Surge member, titled: “Sea Level Rise: The Plum Island Story”.  These presentations are typically well attended, sometimes to overflowing auditoriums, frequently at the Parker River Wildlife Center. 

Storm Surge organized an art exhibition held in 2015 at the Newburyport Art Association.  At the same time and venue, Storm Surge supported a Young and Budding Artist art show. Both shows received much public attendance and enthusiastic reviews.  In addition, Storm Surge supported and helped organize the GOMI (Gulf of Maine Institute) program, and various Climate Cafés held in Newburyport and Ipswich.

During 2018 and 2019, Mike Morris continued to chair Storm Surge and co-chaired the City of Newburyport’s Resiliency Committee.  As a result, Storm Surge played a substantial role in the creation and adoption of the Newburyport Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan, working closely with the City. The Plan was adopted by the City of Newburyport on October 8th, 2020.

Michael Morris stepped down as chair in early 2020 and Bill Clary was recruited as the new chair.  Over the course of 2020, Storm Surge has worked through the COVID-19 pandemic moving its Speaker Series presentation to an online forum, recruited new volunteers to help create video content for local schools with a regional focus on Climate Change, the Great Marsh, and now local geologic history.  Funding for Storm Surge’s programs come from donations and grants.

In early 2021 Bill stepped down as chair.

In 2022 Storm Surge adopted new bylaws and instituted a Board of Directors.