The Red Cross says Australia needs to invest much more in disaster preparedness - before the inevitable next round of cyclones, floods, and other cataclysmic events strike.

"We estimate that there needs to be at least a four-fold national increase in disaster risk reduction," said the Red Cross' Peter Walton to the ABC.  "Australia Red Cross is part of a business round table looking at disaster risk reduction, and that involved a whole range of companies, banking institutions, insurance companies."

Mr. Walton points to the heavy death toll and continued flooding in the southeastern United States that followed Hurricane Matthew as an example of what happens when governments don't prepare.  As a result, the agricultural economy is suffering billions of dollars in disruptions.  But Australia could mitigate the cost of the next disaster before it happens with a small investment.

"We've submitted a report to the Productivity Commission which has demonstrated that for investments of around about $250 million per year, the Australian economy could save $13 billion," he said.

There are new realities to deal with, not least of which is man-made global warming.  It causes more wild weather, more often.

"There's a lot of evidence that for every $1 spent on disaster risk reduction you save $10 at the other end," said Red Cross Australia spokesman Noel Clement to 105.7 ABC Darwin.  "What we're saying is some of that money needs to go in at the front end.

"We're not quite sure why that investment isn't happening at the moment, but we do believe the evidence is there.  The government knows the evidence too," Mr. Clement added.  "I would expect over coming years to see a shift in their funding situation."