My personal experience with natural disasters is limited - perhaps getting the tail end of the 1990 mini tornado in Melbourne ranks. But in 1978 I experienced what it was like to be isolated by flood waters.

From 1974 to 1979 the family spent the May school holidays on the Sapphire Coast. In the first three years we hired a caravan and stayed at a caravan park in Merimbula. In 1977 we opted for a holiday unit in Pambula Beach. This worked wonderfully well, so we did it again in 1978 - for different results.

Throughout the first week, the weather was foul. So foul in fact that the flood plains to the south of Pambula filled up, and the roads between Merimbula and Bega/Tathra were cut. King tides were making the beach unsafe and we were cut off. Not completely, as Merimbula did have a major airfield - but enough.

I remember watching the big waves crash onto the beach while listening to Collingwood stage a miraculous comeback against Footscray in the VFL. I vaguely remember some idiot playing chicken with the waves on the beach, and getting caught one time (I don't think he was hurt).

What worried me was my birthday getting wrecked. It was on the Tuesday of the second week, and I wanted to go to Tathra that day. Luckily, the weather cleared and the roads re-opened and we were able to make the trip.