Storm Surge Speaker Series Presents: High Stakes at High Tide : Understanding Coastal Flood Risks

Sea levels are rising, bringing both challenges and opportunities for coastal communities. In this talk, Katie Giannakopoulos, Coastal Dynamics Research Associate at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, will take a closer look at the forces driving these changes—from the gradual shifts caused by climate change to the sudden impacts of powerful coastal storms. She will revisit the January 2024 storms to examine what made them so severe for communities across the Gulf of Maine, and how science and community action can improve preparedness and response. Finally, she will explore how communities can adapt and build resilience in the face of a changing climate, transforming vulnerability into strength—and what it means to live and thrive at the water’s edge.