Damage to properties with asbestos could leave Bowen residents homeless in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Debbie.
The coastal Queensland town escaped the worst of the category four system after the eye headed south and hit tourism hot spot Airlie Beach.
Renter Joel Medil said he ran to his friend's house during the storm because he was scared.
But going home on Wednesday morning wasn't an option after serious damage to his asbestos roof deemed the building uninhabitable.
"Now I decide to remove all my things and pack up everything," Mr Medil said.
"They said it (the asbestos) will kill me."
Bowen State Emergency Service controller David Thicker said most properties built before 1984 were likely to have asbestos in them.
He said 66 SES volunteers from Cairns were being brought down to help with the clean up, which is expected to take weeks.
Most of the damage is to vegetation and fences with a handful of homes losing their roofs.
Queensland Police assistant commissioner Paul Taylor said emergency services were still trying to grasp the scale of the destruction.
"Bowen has been extremely lucky with regards to the major structures," Asst Comm Taylor said.
"It will take us some time to get a full assessment of what the full damage will be."
A team of SES volunteers is being sent to Collinsville, about 87km inland of Bowen, to assess damage there as communication had been cut during the storm.
