Disasters have always occurred in Australia, even before European settlement began in 1788. Such is the geography and climate of the 'Great South Land' that disasters such as bushfires, cyclones, storms, floods, drought and heatwaves are natural phenomena. They also tend to be seasonal and can be successive: bushfires follow periods of drought or heatwave, and floods follow cyclones or storms. The original inhabitants as well as those who came after the First Fleet have had to learn to live with these and to find ways to overcome the impacts. Every title in the Little Red Books series provides an overview of the subject in Australian history. They cover the essentials, bringing the reader up to speed on the most important, fascinating or intriguing facts. Disasters covered in this book include bushfires, cyclones, storms, floods, drought and heatwaves are natural phenomena.