Summary

Was the country prepared? How does an African country act to prevent a disaster becoming a catastrophe? The devastating rains and floods of early 2000 in southern Mozambique broke all records. 700 people were killed but 50,000 people were saved. Personal stories are used throughout to recapture the awful realities. * Was the international aid useful? Some went wrong. A surprising amount went right. Some specialist interventions went well; the Americans located people, the Austrians concentrated on water purification. * What can be learned for the future? What are the implications for river management and emergency preparation? Frances Christie draws on her experience with the government's own disaster response system and with the United Nations. * Will such floods come again? Did the rain that should have fallen on Ethiopia fall on the Zambezi? Joe Hanlon, author of four other books on Mozambique and formerly of the New Scientist, cross-examines the mythology with science.