The sign outside Sue Bell's house summed it up for many as floodwaters rapidly advanced in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Alfred: "Hell's Bells".
It was placed on the Carina home in Brisbane's east as a cheeky play on Ms Bell's name when her house was rebuilt for a second time after the devastating 2022 floods.
She is confident it won't go under for a third time in nine years after elevating her home almost three metres.
However, Ms Bell knows many others won't be as fortunate as southeast Queensland and northern NSW reel from Alfred's aftermath.
"If I get my toes wet up here, Brisbane is gone. It's Armageddon," she told AAP.
"I am lucky. But I know flooding will now be the problem for many.
"There's a guy who lives behind me in a low set house like mine was. Looks like he is going to go under."
Alfred was downgraded to a tropical low after being the first cyclone to hit Queensland's southeast in more than 50 years, but was still able to "pack a punch".
About 300,000 homes are without power, a man died in floodwaters and more than a dozen soldiers were injured in a truck accident in the wake of Alfred.
The prime minister flew into Brisbane on Sunday as flash flooding shut down a Queensland community, more were rescued and falling trees destroyed homes and cars with more wild weather to come.
Residents at Hervey Bay north of Brisbane were told to stay inside under an emergency declaration after almost 250mm of rain fell in a matter of hours, triggering flash flooding and multiple rescues.
"We have certainly seen some heavy rainfall as the system continues to come across the coast - there is no doubt that it (Alfred) continues to pack a punch," Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said.
Alfred crossed the coast on Saturday but many were caught off guard when strong winds again hit overnight, with gusts up to 100km/h recorded in southeast Queensland.
About 30 rescues took place across Queensland's southeast and northern NSW, with a family of eight driving in rapid floodwaters among those saved.
But some were not so fortunate with confirmation a body had been found, believed to be a 61-year-old man after his ute was swept into floodwaters at Megan, near Dorrigo, NSW on Friday.
Thirteen soldiers were also injured including two who remain in a serious condition after a truck accident near Lismore, NSW on Saturday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said they were "heroes who were on their way to help people in need".
In Queensland, roads were flooded and bus services that resumed in Brisbane on Sunday were again suspended as the weather turned nasty.
Rain lashed Hervey Bay, Wide Bay, Brisbane Metro and the Gold Coast hinterland, with 24 hour totals up to 200mm across Queensland's southeast and northern NSW.
An evacuation warning for Lismore's CBD lifted allowing people to cautiously return to their homes, providing some relief for those still reeling from the devastating 2022 floods.
About 15,000 people were under 36 evacuation warnings across NSW, with 800 seeking refuge on Sunday.
NSW's Clarence River is on high alert while multiple flood warnings remain across the state's north.
"Although there are encouraging signs... we're not out of the woods yet," NSW Premier Chris Minns said.
There is no respite with a severe weather warning from Hervey Bay down to NSW's northwest extending to North West Slopes and Plains.
The region is bracing for damaging winds, dangerous surf and 24 hour rainfall totals of up to 100mm leading to flooding.
Showers are not set to become isolated until Tuesday.
"Even after the rain does ease, flooding can continue for several days to come," the Bureau of Meteorology's Jonathan How said.
