In late October 2012, two storm systems converged on New York City, unleashing the fury of Superstorm Sandy. Storm Surge Rising tells the story of Jack Hamilton and members of his lab group at Columbia University as they prepare for and experience the most powerful storm ever to strike the northeastern United States. Storm Surge Rising is a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between climate science and the human experience. It explores the complicated relationships among its characters, intertwining their personal stories with critical commentary on climate change and social justice. Tensions build in these relationships as Sandy approaches, heightening feelings of fear, guilt, insecurity, love, responsibility, and vulnerability. There is great uncertainty about how these characters and relationships will weather the storm. Once Sandy makes landfall, the narrative's tension reaches its crescendo. Characters face life-threatening situations, and how they respond reveals their inner strengths and resilience. In the storm's aftermath, passions run high, and characters must confront the various physical and emotional traumas they have undergone. Transformed by the experience, the characters make decisions and resolve their relationships, some more completely than others.