Preparations are underway in Rockhampton for the biggest flood in more than 60 years, with army personnel being deployed to assist residents in the central Queensland city.
Forecasters expect a major flood peak to hit Rockhampton by the early hours of Thursday, reaching a level larger than the 2011 floods and potentially matching the February 1954 flood level of 9.4 metres.
"At that level, we would see around 5400 properties impacted including 3,000 residential, 1500 commercial and potentially another 900 properties," Mayor Margaret Strelow said.
It's understood some local supermarket shelves have been left bare as residents scramble to collect supplies ahead of the floodwaters.
The Rockhampton Airport is also expected to close at midday on Monday.
At 9am on Sunday, the main flood peak in the Fitzroy system was in the Mackenzie River downstream of Coolmaringa and predicted to move downstream over the next week.
Army personnel are among the emergency services to have been pre-deployed to the central Queensland city ahead of the floodwaters' spread, with doorknocking also underway.
"This is not something that will suddenly happen, but the water will gradually rise in that Rockhampton and surrounding areas," Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said on Sunday.
Of the state's destructive weather, he warned: "This is not over yet."
Volunteers are frantically working to save sporting venues in the flood zones including the Rockhampton Hockey Association, which was due to relocate to higher ground at the end of 2017.
President Barbara Knowles said any damage to the current grounds would be taking money away from the crucial relocation fund.
"I couldn't bear the thought of having to spend another $500,000 or more on cleaning this up," Mrs Knowles told AAP.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued major flood warnings for the Connors, Isaac, Mackenzie and Fitzroy Rivers.
The preparations come after the body of Eagleby man Nelson Raebel was found by emergency crews on Saturday afternoon, becoming the Queensland's first victim following ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie.
Authorities hold grave concerns for three others still missing: a man in his 60s who went bushwalking at Lamington National Park, 50-year-old Mondure man David Heidemann and 58-year-old John Frost from Mount Pleasant in Mackay.
