Rockhampton residents have been told to prepare for the city’s worst flood since 1954, with the Fitzroy River predicted to peak at 9.4 metres on Wednesday.
"We could see over 3,000 homes, residential homes impacted, we could see over 1,500 businesses, so now is the time to prepare, and now is the time to get ready.
Further north, Cyclone Debbie-affected residents in Bowen and Airlie Beach in north Queensland have been told to boil their tap water before drinking it as it could contain bacteria, as the clean-up from the category four storm continues.
"There are 18,000 people without power in the Mackay region … and I really want to pay tribute to all of the response teams here in Mackay for all of the work they are doing to get people back on their feet."
Whitsundays Councillor Mike Brunker said the region was slowly getting back on its feet.
Councillor Brunker said local businesses would take priority as power was slowly returned to the region.
(ABC News: Dominique Schwartz) Floodwaters cut the Bruce Highway south of Proserpine.
(ABC News: Dominique Schwartz) Low-lying areas of Mackay have been impacted by flooding from the Pioneer River.
(ABC News: Dominique Schwartz) A flooded property at Flametree, Airlie Beach.
(ABC News: Allyson Horn) The Queensland Transport office in Proserpine was extensively damaged.