Cyclones can also bring flood rains, which cause further damage to property, and increases the risk of drowning.
Cyclones can also cause huge seas, putting vessels in danger both in harbour and out at sea.
Most deaths from cyclones occur as a result of drowning, collapsed buildings, or flying debris which becomes lethal in high winds. Australia's cyclone season is usually from December to April and affects most of the Queensland Coast. The greatest threat lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Cyclones occur frequently in the Southern Hemisphere with an average of 10 cyclones per year tracked by the Bureau of Meteorology in the Australian region. The 'life-cycle' of the average tropical cyclone is about 7 days, but can extend to over 3 weeks.