"Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice" - Will DurantThe Monterey Bay Region seems to have it all - sandy beaches, sunshine, the redwoods and rivers - paradise for most of us. This scenic landscape that has drawn people here for hundreds of years owes its origins to the underlying geology and climate, and both of these are somewhat unpredictable. Earthquakes and landslides, floods and droughts, El Niños and seacliff erosion all take place more frequently than we care to remember. Yet they are a fundamental part of this landscape we inhabit and that we can expect to experience for as long as we have an Earth.