Eight days after arriving, ex-tropical cyclone Jasper is still impacting the far north and could yet intensify again on Christmas Day.
People were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge on rooftops after Jasper crossed the coast mid-last week, causing record rainfall and flooding.
Almost 40 communities are still isolated, with Kowanyama in the remote Cape York, a peninsula located in far north Queensland, now on high alert.
Major flooding is set to impact the community from Dec. 16 with vulnerable residents evacuated to Cairns as a precaution.
Ex-tropical cyclone Jasper is currently in the Gulf of Carpentaria, causing showers and thunderstorms across the Cape’s north.
“The system is still hanging around,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson told AAP.
“Potentially it may still have a bit more impact for us.”
There is a low probability - a five to 20 per cent chance - of Jasper redeveloping into a cyclone by Christmas if it tracks northwest to the Coral Sea.
“But there is quite a bit of uncertainty in terms of movement,” the bureau said.
“The system could move west and away.”
In the meantime, Kowanyama has stocked up on food and fuel as it braces for major flooding.
Water levels are expected to rival the 2000 flood when 22 houses went under.
Locals have begun sandbagging while the Kowanyama council completed “significant earthworks” in preparation.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said they did not expect people to be evacuated but air support was on standby.
“Should something happen once Kowanyama becomes isolated, if there’s any medical issues, we’re ready to support the community,” he said.
“These are towns that do get isolated for long periods of time during monsoonal events - they are well practised at this.”
Two Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopters have been busy with an evacuation, with 220 now relocated from Wujal Wujal north of Cairns.
Another 50 could be transported to Cooktown on Dec. 22.
Emergency crews have checked on all 35 isolated communities, providing them with supplies.
“I’m pleased to report that we do not have any missing persons in those communities or any serious injury,” Mr. Chelepy said.
However, there are grave concerns for an 85-year-old man who has been missing since Dec. 17 at Degarra, near Wujal Wujal.
Police have dismissed social media reports of a body being found in the region.
“The search for him will continue in the coming days,” Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said of the 85-year-old.
The clean-up has begun in the Cairns region with rain and floodwaters easing.
“As each day goes by we do see small signs of progress ... I think the community is taking some heart from that,” federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.
“[But] this is going to be a long recovery effort.”
There have been 3,800 insurance claims lodged, almost 7,500 applications for emergency hardship payments and more than 3200 essential household claims made.
About 2600 properties in the region have been assessed with 1100 requiring significant repair.
As locals clean up, police have begun “high-visibility patrols” after three incidents of looting.
At one stage, more than 40,000 people were without power but the Queensland government has vowed to have every household restored by Christmas Eve.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are set to visit flood-hit areas on Friday.
