But the far north Queensland town of Cooktown still opened its arms to people fleeing floodwaters at Aboriginal community Wujal Wujal.
Two Australian Defence Force Chinook helicopters were set to complete the relocation of about 200 people on Wednesday, after flooding caused by ex tropical cyclone Jasper devastated Wujal Wujal.
People had to be rescued from rooftops including a seven-year-old boy at the Wujual Wujal hospital before the ADF swooped in, transporting about 100 people to Cooktown barely 24 hours after 97 were relocated.
It threw out the welcome mat despite being one of the worst hit by the cyclone.
Among the dozens of December daily rainfall records to fall across the far north, Cooktown at one stage copped almost 340mm, eclipsing the previous mark of 195mm set back in 1907.
As a result, Cooktown's water treatment plant went under along with road access, sparking concerns for food supplies.
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott was also forced to scramble for bedding for the new arrivals.
Yet the town did not think twice about opening up their PCYC as an evacuation centre.
"We have opened our arms to the Wujal Wujal people. We are saying, 'You are part of our Cape family. Come in, you are welcome'," Mr Scott told AAP.
The local supermarket is fully stocked after the road reopened.
"We were getting low but three trucks were able to get through this morning from down Cairns way," Mr Scott said.
"The shelves are full again at the IGA so we're right."
The bedding dilemma has also been solved with 100 mattresses and 100 sleeping bags - all new - sourced from Mosmman's shelter.
"It's fabulous to also see the amount of generosity coming out of the community - people are donating clothes, sheets, towels and food," Mr Scott said.
The water supply is still a "bit iffy", but they are hoping to have it up and running by tomorrow and in the meantime they have the nearby bore fields as backup, he said.
"That (bore) water is okay to drink, it just doesn't look as nice as treated water," Mr Scott said.
"That good, treated water is in a high level reservoir and it is dwindling down ... we are trying to make the good stuff last as long as we can."
Cooktown's generosity has not gone unnoticed.
"The warm reception that was provided to those evacuees...in Cooktown has been outstanding," Queensland Police's Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said.
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