The helicopters seemed to come out of nowhere.
One by one they arrived to rescue stranded locals as floodwaters inundated a southwest Queensland community.
“I don’t know where they all came from,” Adavale local Ray Finger told AAP.
Fleeing by road was not an option for Adavale residents after water levels dramatically rose in the remote town.
Thankfully, word got out across Channel Country that help was needed, prompting a quick response from local pilots.
“Locals found out we were being flooded and came to the rescue,” Mr Finger’s wife Kirstin told AAP.
A local in a tinnie helped pick up neighbours as the entire population of about 30 people was evacuated.
“He was going around doing swift water rescues, taking people over to one of the nearby hills so they could be taken out by helicopter,” Ms Finger said.
“It was great to see everyone come together.”
Adavale residents were relocated to nearby Quilpie, where they have spent the past few days.
Helicopter pilots have been kept busy since, delivering feed and rescuing livestock when they are not pulling off other evacuations amid widespread flooding.
“Without them I reckon everything would stop. They have done a tremendous job,” Mr Finger said of the local pilots.
“It’s unbelievable what they do, I can’t praise them enough.”
Flooding twice the size of Victoria has inundated inland Queensland, with more rain to come.
It is considered the worst flooding seen in the region in more than 50 years, triggering fears of widespread livestock losses.
But water levels have begun to recede at Adavale, providing hope a return is imminent.
“We are looking at a pretty big clean-up,” Mr Finger said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been organised to help Adavale’s recovery, with more than $6000 already raised.
Further down in the Bulloo River system, another entire town has fled their home due to rising floodwaters.
Thargomindah’s population of more than 200 people has been moved to higher ground after floodwaters breached a levee, eclipsing 1974 record levels by reaching 7.5m on Tuesday.
Locals have been warned that water levels could rise again with the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Dianne bringing more rain.
“Until the water is gone, the whole town is shut down. It is a no go zone,” local Nancy Sparks told AAP.
“It’s pretty devastating for this little town but we are trying to hold it together.”
The heaviest falls are set to hit southern Queensland and northern NSW on Wednesday, with totals exceeding 100mm in some areas.