Includes bibliographical references (p. 47) and index.

Wind and cyclones -- Changing history -- Building up to a hurricane -- Hurricane Mitch -- The great hurricane of 1780 -- The eye of the storm -- Storm surges -- Galveston?s great storm -- Hurricane Katrina -- Studying hurricanes -- Okeechobee and Long Island -- Big winds of the Pacific -- Japan and the Philippines -- Typhoon cobra -- Storms off the Indian Ocean -- Bangladesh -- The destruction of Darwin -- Surviving a hurricane -- Activity -- Glossary -- Additional resources.

"A discussion of major types of natural disasters, including descriptions of some of the most destructive; explanations of these phenomena, what causes them, and where they occur; and information about how to prepare for and survive these forces of nature. Features include an activity, glossary, list of resources, and index"--Provided by publisher.