The winter of 2023-2024 had a sustained series of storms creating a collision of wind, water and land. Where I live Downeast, it seemed that the wind never stopped, that it would blow from one way then come around in what seemed a lull and then blow from the other way. The ocean storm surges were overwhelming at times and magnificent in their power. Land was clawed by the waves. Shrubs, grasses and trees that had buried their roots into the soil and held back the shore for years disappeared in a matter of hours. Boathouses, sheds, wharfs and even some houses were swept off their footings and lost their balance, sliding off into the storm waters and pounded into pieces. Land use planning and emergency management plans have foreseen the impact of storm surges and climate change for years.