Emergency crews and locals on Wednesday banded together at the Queensland outback town of Clermont as the clean-up began following record rainfall.
They rolled up their sleeves to help after more than 200mm of rain fell in 24 hours, marking the heaviest rainfall since 1916 when wild weather claimed 60 lives.
More than 70 homes were inundated by floodwaters as Koji carved a path of destruction, sparking multiple rescues and leaving behind layers of sticky mud and debris.
The community had taken "an absolute hammering", Natural Resources Minister Dale Last said in Clermont on Wednesday.
"We're seeing the mud army of Clermont come out to clean up the mess that's been left behind," he said.
Mr Last revealed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was set to visit "at some point" after announcing hardship payments for Clermont, McKinlay Shire and parts of the Mackay region.
Rodel Bingco was trying to drive to Emerald, an hour's drive southeast, when the waters began rising rapidly.
"We were on the road and the water just started coming from everywhere," he told AAP.
"We were in (between) Emerald and Clermont. I said to my wife 'no, we can't make it to Emerald, let's go back' ... the rain was unstoppable."
But Mr Rodel, who has lived in Clermont for eight years, was upbeat after witnessing the town's willingness to pitch in.
"It's a good feeling that everyone wants to help," he said.
Isaac deputy mayor Jane Pickels told AAP a community of volunteers were "out there giving a hand to anyone who needs one".
"It's heartbreaking when you see people's possessions getting piled up on the footpath and put into bins,'' she said.
"The emotions will really start to set in when they see the reality of the damage."
A disaster recovery centre opened at the local bowls club to help people get back on their feet.
While the 3000-strong Clermont community was bonding, the neighbouring Central Highlands region was bracing.
An emergency alert was issued on Wednesday warning of a flooding threat for Mackenzie River, warning residents in low-lying areas to leave for higher ground.
Hours later the alert was cancelled but major flood warnings remain for the MacKenzie, Georgina, Flinders and Connors-Isaac rivers.
Attention also turned to the northwest, which is bracing for more rain as the remnants of the cyclone moves further inland.
The region is still reeling from flooding caused by a monsoon, with more than 50,000 livestock missing or dead.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli feared the region had been left in the dark after graziers complained local flood gauges linked to the Bureau of Meteorology website were offline.
He called for more federal flood gauge investment to ensure graziers received accurate data at critical times.
A bureau spokesperson said there were more than 4500 rain and river gauges in Queensland, with about a third owned by the bureau and the rest mostly by local and state governments.
"Due to its size, scale, complexity, and the multiple purposes for which gauges exist, the status of the flood warning network is always changing," the spokesperson said.
Regions have been hit hard by heavy rain and flooding while the minister responsible for community recovery, Amanda Camm, has been on leave.
Mr Last defended his colleague, saying Ms Camm had handed the reins over to Sam O'Connor who had been "well briefed".
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