Big Weather (and how to survive it)
3 X 1 HR | 2020 | PRODUCED FOR ABC AUSTRALIA
A COPRODUCTION WITH DMA CREATIVE
From the frontlines of Australia’s Black Summer of 2019-20, three-part series BIG WEATHER (AND HOW TO SURVIVE IT) delivers an urgent and entertaining message of how our weather is changing and what we can do to survive it.
Presenter CRAIG REUCASSEL charts the season as oppressive heatwaves set temperature records that lead to Australia’s worst fire season on record. Over 20 million hectares of forest go up in flames: a fifth of the continent's forest and an area twice the size of Belgium. Then in a violent contradiction, catastrophic fire is followed by severe storms and flash floods.
Sharing stories from frontline disaster crews, experts and communities dealing with the effects of our escalating climate emergency, Big Weather (and how to survive it) seeks to answer some big questions: Why are these events becoming less predictable and more intense? And what can we do to prepare, survive and adapt into the future?
Big Weather (and how to survive it) is a dynamic and emotional series showcasing nature at its most destructive and spectacular. Fusing tales of tragedy and triumph with practical tips and survival scenarios, Big Weather brings the lived experience of an historic summer into every living room, to help communities adapt, survive and thrive in the new era of climate extremes.
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Accolades
“Episode two of this brilliant series, hosted by Craig Reucassel, takes viewers ‘into the firestorm’ of last summer and is a shocking reminder of what our amazing firefighters faced during the worst bushfire season on record. There are tips on how to be prepared if facing these conditions, and yet another red flag for climate-denying politicians to get off their backsides and do something constructive about global warming.”
“Like most things in life, being informed is the key. Instead of being fearful of what could happen, this series is a valuable tool for preparation and encourages us all to think about what we could be face with as weather intensifies and conditions change.”
“No stunts are required in Craig Reucassel’s latest assault on climate complacency. Enraged Mother Earth is convincing enough of the desperate situation, especially in this episode ‘Into the Firestorm’. Joining the CFA for training and then in action, Reucassel is our stinging eyes and burning ears on the front line of the impossible war. The focus here is on survival strategies rather than fixes. A high school demonstration on the cognitive effects of extreme heat is alarming. 4/5 stars.”
