Like thousands of others, Leesa Gentz and Julz Parker, aka the band Hussy Hicks, have seen their property destroyed in Lismore's life-threatening floods.
While they helped save the life of their elderly neighbour earlier this week, the pair warn the trauma being felt across the community won't recede with the floodwaters.
"There's people in their 80s who did that on their own and their bodies were discovered," Parker said.
"We're OK but there's going to be a lot of people who aren't."
Preparation not enough
Hussy Hicks are Gold Coast-based but have a studio in Lismore near the Wilsons River.
Gentz said they were aware of the area's flood risk but that this event exceeded any expectations.
"We prepared for the highest in history, we knew we could stay in," she said.
Gentz said they kept trying put their belongings "further and further up" but that eventually the waters "wiped everything off the history books".
Rush to save neighbour
Parker said she became worried for her 87-year-old neighbour, Jim, with the SES too overwhelmed to reach them in time.
"I'd be wanting to go over to him during the night but I couldn't see anything and the water never stopped rushing."
She said she managed to get on a kayak and found Jim "half up" on a floating bed at his house.
"I went in and got Jim to wrap his arms around my shoulders and half paddled, half tiptoed, jumped out, and managed to get us both out to a bit of railing.
"The water kept rising and kept rising, and the only thing the emergency services could say was 'get on the roof'."
Gentz said she and Parker had been a team through the whole thing.
"[But] Julz is always the one who barrels in and fixes situations," she said.
"Our very, very dear friend over there needs help and she was definitely going to do it."
'How we all ended up alive'
As she stayed behind, Gentz said she contacted her family who were able to send a boat.
"That's ultimately how we all ended up still alive."
Parker said she managed to help Jim into the boat — both exhausted after hours battling floodwaters.
"I got to that millisecond point where it's like, 'This is our last attempt because the roof is going under'," she said.
While everyone got into the boat and off to safety, Parker said they had lost "absolutely everything".
"A curation of microphones and pre-amps and studio monitors and just really specialist stuff that you collect your whole life to have a music studio," she said.
"Our story, as dramatic as it might be, is one of thousands."
