The residents of Galiwinku agree: Cyclone Lam is the biggest storm they've ever seen.
"It was the biggest one ever," Nikunu Yunupingu affirmed on Sunday from under a massive African mahogany that had crushed his car and fallen onto his roof and veranda.
"It was just terrible."
Lisa Nyalana Bunwunga spent the night with her six children at the Shepherdson College cyclone shelter with 400 other people.
"It was a windy one," she told AAP. "We heard the breaking, the trees."
Ms Bunwunga said despite sewerage backing up in the toilets, people were happy and safe indoors.
Her house has lost its roof and she is using a candle for light and cooking on a fire until the power is restored.
Kevin Gumbala may be the one exception in rating Lam's severity. After surviving Cyclone Tracy 40 years ago, he says it's the worst storm he's experienced since.
Clean-up efforts are underway at the four remote indigenous communities hit by Cyclone Lam, after the category four storm hit Elcho Island off the north coast of the Northern Territory on Thursday night before turning inland.
The community of Galiwinku sustained the most damage, with six houses destroyed, another 10 almost gone, 80 with moderate to major roof damage and 50 with minor roof damage.
Two-thirds of the community's homes were affected.
Chief Minister Adam Giles said it was too soon to estimate the damage cost or how long it will take to rebuild after a visit to Elcho Island on Sunday.
Seeing the damage first-hand was "heartbreaking", he said, but it was being assessed and the government is doing everything they can to get the community functioning once more.
"Galiwinku residents, I'm glad you're safe, thank you for your tenacity and your efforts in times of hardship throughout the cyclone," he said.
Seventy per cent of homes were still without power three days after the cyclone, although the island's high voltage lines were 95 per cent restored on Sunday morning.
The water and sewerage systems were back up and running, although residents were warned to boil water as a precaution and beware of toilets clogging.
Emergency services teams are in the affected communities of Ramingining, Milingimbi and Gapuwiyak, progressively restoring their essential services and surveying the damage.
A state of emergency will remain in place across the four communities until Tuesday, when it will be reassessed, said acting Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
Schools in Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Maningrida and Bulman will reopen on Monday.
Gapuwiyak school would reopen on Tuesday, along with Warruwi school.
Warruwi's 426 residents were evacuated to Darwin before the cyclone hit and by Sunday night almost all of them will be returned home.
Schools in Maningrida, Milingimbi and Galiwinku will not reopen until March 2, Mr Giles said.
Ex-cyclone Lam is forecast to move into WA's Kimberley and North Interior district later on Sunday, bringing heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding.
A severe weather warning has been issued for people in effected areas including those in the towns of Derby, Kuri Bay, Kalumburu, Wyndham and Kununurra.
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