The ride is set in a 1960s New England fishing village which has been hit by a tidal wave, named "Amity Cove". The surrounding area has a high level of detail to carry this theme. The ride's queueline is host to a number of partially ruined buildings, including a bathroom with a leaking shower, a toilet and a house with a boat stuck in its roof. The station is built at an angle to give the impression that the building has been damaged by the wave. The area's New England setting is only rough, as Storm Surge is set in Virginia.

Upon leaving the ride, guests are led through a building, named "Pier 13", situated directly in front of the splash pool and above the track. As the boat hits the water, the wave travels straight towards this building and often continues on to the pathway behind. Two windows of the Pier 13 building have no perspex, presenting another opportunity for riders to get wet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_Wa...)