A northern NSW community is rallying around the little girl who miraculously survived a river tragedy that killed her mum and siblings.
As Tumbulgum locals count the cost of the damage caused by the devastating floods, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $70,000 in one day for eight-year-old Chloe and her father.
The girl's mother Stephanie King was behind the wheel of the family's white van when it veered off a muddy road on Monday afternoon into the Tweed River at the flood-ravaged town.
She died trying to free her three children inside the vehicle.
Chloe was able to escape, but her "heroic" 43-year-old mother drowned along with her seven-year-old brother Jacob and 11-year-old sister Ella Jane.
The three bodies were retrieved from the vehicle on Tuesday afternoon.
Tweed Byron Superintendent Wayne Starling said it was difficult to imagine the family's pain.
"I've got no doubt whatsoever that that woman is a hero," he told reporters in Tumbulgum on Tuesday.
"She'd be alive today if she wasn't trying to save the children."
Tweed Shire mayor Katie Milne says the deaths and devastation from floods have "absolutely gutted people".
Six lives have been lost in the worst floods to hit northern NSW in 40 years, with the cost of cleaning up the damage reaching $200 million.
The workplace of Chloe's father Matt Kabealo, a chef at the Kingscliff Beach Bowls Club, has been quick to organise financial help.
"Matt and Chloe are going to need a lot of support and we're going to do what we can," general manager Phillip Kelly said.
The club along with the Club Managers' Association Australia initiated a GoFundMe page and wanted to raise at least $60,000 for the pair. On Wednesday afternoon, it had surpassed $72,000.
Counselling was being provided for staff and students at Dungay Public School and Tumbulgum Public School, where Ms King's children attended.
"The children were valued and very well-liked at both schools," a NSW Education spokesman said.
"They are very sorely missed."
Ms Milne said the region had been "completely smashed" by floodwaters, and while residents felt desperate and heartbroken, she hoped the spirit of people would help rebuild the community.
A recovery centre has opened in Murwillumbah and Ms Milne has launched the Mayor Appeal Fund to provide assistance to local residents.
"The Tweed is a wonderful and diverse community but it's not an affluent one, and given the scale of the devastation we desperately need help to get back on our feet," she said.
Tumbulgum remains under evacuation orders from the State Emergency Service and spokeswoman Becky Gollings expected those orders to remain for the next day or two.
"We're just waiting on council to get in and assess the sewerage situation," she told AAP on Wednesday.
"I know it's incredibly frustrating for residents and they'd be keen to get back, but it still can be quite dangerous - there are lots of hazards about."
