Sean Varenkamp, right, checks out what’s left of his capsized 26-foot Ranger tugboat, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in the Santa Cruz Harbor. The boat was among those damaged in the Dec. 23 storm.

Of all the hazards that hurricanes bring, storm surge is the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. It can sweep homes off their foundations, flood riverside communities miles inland, ...

Laura strengthened Wednesday into a menacing Category 4 hurricane, raising fears of a 20-foot storm surge that forecasters said would be "unsurvivable” and capable of sinking entire communities ...

With powerful waves on top of it, a hurricane’s storm surge can cause catastrophic damage. Of all the hazards that hurricanes bring, storm surge is one of the greatest threats to life and ...

Water level heights during a hurricane can reach 20 feet or more above normal sea level. With powerful waves on top of it, a hurricane's storm surge can cause catastrophic damage. Related: ...

Hurricane Helene’s 14-foot storm surge topped the building’s roof. With seven miles to the next closest corner store and 20 more to the supermarket, the town lost a key fixture.