The session deals with the history of storm surges – of the geophysical events and the development of countermeasures, and of societal perceptions. Methods to deal with the hazard of storm surges are reviewed; the development of coastal engineering, but also how storm surges were understood by people, both affected and merely reading about it from a distance. In previous times, storm surges were not understood as a consequence of strong winds amassing water in certain coastal sectors, but as divine intervention, as punishment. Also today, storm surge events are sometimes interpreted as a moral dimension.

Papers in this theme might address:
- Historical accounts of storm surge risk
- Awareness of storm surge risk
- Perception of dynamics and drivers of storm surges
- Media coverage and presentation of natural risks, storm surge events, responses, and predictions
- Future perceptions of surge risks