Queensland's premier has asked the community to dig deep and donate to those whose homes were flooded in an unprecedented deluge that struck the state's southeast.
Those hit hardest are now eligible for a payment of $180 per person or $900 per family after the state government activated an immediate hardship allowance on Sunday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk toured some of the worst-hit streets at Deception Bay, north of Brisbane, where she said some residents had lost everything.
"What we are asking people to do, if you can spare some cash, is to donate, to give it," she said.
"We really need to get these people back on their feet."
Five people were killed when three cars were washed away during the relentless downpour on Friday.
The victims included a five-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman and a 74-year-old man, all from the same family.
Many homes were also inundated when 27mm of rain fell in just three hours in the Caboolture area, north of Brisbane.
Residents of Embassy Street and Major Street in Deception Bay spent the weekend cleaning out flood-damaged homes, some for the second time in less than three months.
One family had been due to move back home this week after their property flooded in late February in heavy rain associated with Cyclone Marcia.
Now their homecoming has been postponed indefinitely as they begin yet another clean-up.
"It's not fair on anyone to have to do it twice in eight weeks," said homeowner Leanne Lamont.
"The devastation this time is 20 times worse."
Some residents blame the flooding on a nearby development.
Ms Palaszczuk promised a thorough investigation but said neither she, nor the local mayor, had seen such extreme weather.
"The amount of rain that came down here was unheard of," she said.
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