After destructive tsunamis and volcanic eruptions play havoc with the world's environment, several women emerge as leaders. Snowed in, Heather in a North Yorkshire dale uses her bizarre windfall to everyone's advantage until finally defeated by unrelenting arctic conditions, she makes an epic journey over land and frozen sea on an old tractor. On the French Riviera, Michelle survives the invasion of starving European refugees to feed them and continue as a music teacher. Driven from inundated Brisbane, Nina and Amy rise to be refugee camp leaders. A novel of ill-suited love, shattered families and political corruption. A novel of courage and determination overcoming catastrophe.