Residents who were locked inside their homes while gunshots rang out through their quiet North Queensland neighbourhood are speaking to counsellors about their experiences.
Outreach teams are doorknocking residents in the Townsville suburb of Kirwan after a 10-hour siege on Sunday night.
Police officers were forced to seek refuge in nearby homes when a man fired a "significant" number of shots at houses and police vehicles.
Five vehicles were seriously damaged after being sprayed by bullets.
Police established a broad exclusion zone, which meant people were not allowed to leave their properties or come in or out of the area.
Dozens of officers were involved in the response, including negotiators, the dog squad and the Specialist Emergency Response Team (SERT) team.
Officers conducted operations from the kitchens and yards of some homes, forcing some residents to be evacuated.
The sounds of a speaker used by police to negotiate with the man could be heard by residents until the early hours of Monday morning.
The siege ended at 6.45am on Monday, when police found the 50-year-old gunman deceased inside a home.
'Very safe' neighbourhood
Resident Kathy Cailler, who lives in the street next to the one where the shots were fired, said the incident had shocked the close-knit community.
"I go past the place when I walk every morning and see the people and we say hello," she said.
"My heart is really, really hurt at the moment because I feel really sorry for the family."
Ms Cailler said she had always felt "very safe" in her neighbourhood and considered the siege an isolated incident.
"God knows what was going through his mind at the time," Ms Cailler said.
"But with mental health [issues] really rising, we need to focus more on that and then we won't have these sorts of situations."
The Queensland government established a community recovery response program on Tuesday for Kirwan residents affected by the siege.
Ready Reserves – a group of outreach support officers who usually respond to natural disasters like floods, fires and cyclones – will conduct follow-up visits to neighbours.
Union offers police support
The Queensland Police Union said it was providing support for its members caught up in the incident.
"The offender fired a significant number of bullets at police vehicles," president Ian Leavers said.
"The damage created by his actions show just how lucky police responding to this incident were."
Mr Leavers said it was another reminder of the dangers of policing, four months after Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were killed during a siege in Queensland's Western Downs.
"The things a police officer is exposed to can never be unseen," he said.
"Thankfully the men and women who do this job continue to turn up every shift trying to do their best to protect the community."
The Department of Communities and Housing said Kirwan residents could call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
"It is important that anyone who is struggling has access to the help they need to support their recovery," Communities Minister Leeanne Enoch said.
