Some swam for hours seeking refuge from rising floodwaters.
Finally, locals at Degarra in far north Queensland found shelter in trees.
But after holding on for up to 12 hours they began to say goodbye to each other, with no respite seemingly in sight.
Heartbreaking stories of survival emerged after record floodwaters caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper devastated the Degarra community north of Cairns last month.
Three weeks after the natural disaster, the local mayor says the heartache continues.
One elderly man is still missing at Degarra which remains isolated with no road access because of flooding damage.
"This is a community of 45 people, most of them middle-aged who have lost one of their neighbours," Douglas Shire Mayor Michael Kerr told AAP.
"They have got horrific stories of saying goodbye to each other because they were stuck in trees for up to 12 hours after swimming for two hours.
"It's a horrendous mess at Degarra at the moment and nothing has been done to assist them."
The nearby community of Wujal Wujal was evacuated by Australian Defence Force helicopters weeks ago when the floods hit.
Degarra residents are still waiting for help despite suffering damage that has been likened to Cyclone Tracy's 1974 destruction of Darwin.
"They haven't left, they are still there. Some have got tarps over their houses, a lot are still chock full of mud," Mr Kerr said.
"They don't have a water supply so can't hose things out. Others are living with friends because their property is so badly damaged."
About a dozen homes have been completely inundated by water with many more severely damaged including the house of the missing 85-year-old man.
"It reminded me of a scene from Cyclone Tracy," Mr Kerr said of Degarra.
"You look down and there is at least a kilometre that is just flattened with people's possessions all through it.
"There's fridges, furniture, personal effects - it's just strewn everywhere."
Degarra has received food, water and supplies from the council via daily helicopter drops with "massive landslides" blocking surrounding roads.
A dozen SES and emergency services crews have begun to arrive for the clean-up of Degarra along with the nearby Wujal Wujal, Bloomfield and Ayton areas.
Mr Kerr said it wasn't nearly enough.
"If you put 100 people in this region it would still only make a dent within a month," he said.
"We need boots on the ground. I am really starting to get concerned about it.
"We are only a matter of weeks away from the wet season kicking in. If there is one more rain event they don't have a way to get out."
The Queensland government has assured the far north community help is on its way ahead of a visit by premier Steven Miles on Friday.
Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd said residents may have found the rebuild "painstakingly slow" but authorities had devised a systematic and strategic plan to work with vulnerable infrastructure.
