When power was finally restored to her storm-hit home, Renata Brunton opted not to return straight away.
The decision may have saved her life.
Soon afterwards a giant tree landed in her bedroom, destroying her family's Gold Coast home in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
"I am just glad I wasn't there because I would be dead right now," Ms Brunton told AAP.
The mother-of-two had earlier been at the Tugun residence as wild weather hit the tourist strip, causing widespread blackouts and damage.
Her husband had taken her two boys, aged seven and 10, to another location which still had power.
She later joined them before getting a call from the neighbour, telling her electricity had been restored.
"I actually thought about going back home but the weather wasn't too good," Ms Brunton said.
About 20 minutes later she got another call from the neighbour, with devastating news.
"I was told about the tree and I got upset straight away but thought we might be able to fix the roof," an emotional Ms Brunton said.
"But the next day we went to the house and the tree had hit the bedroom and the whole roof came down.
"The whole thing was gone, rain was already leaking all through the house - the whole structure was affected."
Ms Brunton was thankful she was not around when the tree struck but did not have time to count her blessings.
She is more concerned about finding somewhere for her family to live.
"We lost our home. We don't have anywhere to go. I don't have family here, I am from Brazil," Ms Brunton said.
"We had lived there for 11 years. I never thought I would have to go through something like this. It's devastating."
The family are sweating on body corporate insurance but in the meantime are relying on the kindness of others.
A GoFundMe account has been set up by a friend, raising more than $9000 by Tuesday afternoon.
They also have a place to stay for the next 10 days after grabbing what they could from their destroyed home.
Work is underway to remove the tree from the Tugun apartment as the Gold Coast begins to mop up after Alfred's impact.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate described it as the "largest disaster recovery in the city's history".
