Another far north Queensland community is bracing for major flooding as a town's evacuation and the search for an elderly man continues.
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Rain and floodwaters caused by Tropical Cyclone Jasper are easing north of Cairns allowing the clean-up to begin, with authorities vowing to return power by Christmas Eve.
Emergency crews are set to visit all 35 isolated communities by Wednesday while the evacuation of flood-hit Wujal Wujal residents to Cooktown is expected to be completed.
The search for an 85-year-old man missing at nearby Degarra will also continue although police say they have "grave concerns" for his safety.
However major flooding is now forecast for Kowanyama, putting the remote Cape York Peninsula community on high alert.
Heavy rainfall is expected for the Cape in the coming days as ex-cyclone Jasper lingers, with significant river level rises predicted near Kowanyama.
Emergency crews have already evacuated vulnerable residents in the area in preparation.
"Jasper is refusing to go away and its remnants are now causing issues for communities further up the peninsula," Deputy Premier Cameron Dick said.
Queensland Police's Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy said the Kowanyama community was "well and truly prepared", stocking up on food and fuel.
Some far north areas have had two metres of rain over the past week, prompting hundreds to flee their homes or seek shelter on rooftops before being rescued.
The Australian Defence Force is assisting, sending two Chinook helicopters that are helping with the evacuation of Wujal Wujal.
About 100 people have already been relocated to Cooktown from the Aboriginal community, with the remainder set to be transported on Wednesday.
Nearby Degarra has also been devastated by flooding, compounding fears for an 85-year-old man who has been missing since Sunday.
"It's devastating in that area..While I still hold hope, I also hold grave concerns given what we have seen on the ground," Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said.
The clean-up has began north of Cairns, allowing the airport to be reopened and help to be flown in just days after planes were submerged in floodwaters.
A week after Cyclone Jasper hit the Queensland coast, Mr Dick said communities north of Cairns were now officially in recovery mode.
He said roads were reopening and crews on the ground to restore power, shop supplies and water with more disaster relief set to roll out.
"Everyone wants and deserves a happy, safe and as normal a Christmas as possible," Mr Dick said.
"So there is a lot of work to be done to enable that to happen.
"I want Queenslanders to know our frontline workers are working as hard as they can but they are up to that challenge - I just ask residents in the far north to be patient."
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the aim was to have power restored at every household by Christmas Eve after more than 40,000 were affected at one stage.
Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are set to tour flood-hit areas from Thursday.
"This recovery could take months," Mr Miles told ABC Radio.
The Bureau of Meteorology said rainfall and river levels had eased north of Cairns since Monday but there was still some minor flooding along the north tropical coast.
Jasper is expected to "meander around" the Gulf and move out to the Coral Sea early next week, with a low potential of intensifying back into a cyclone.
Australian Associated Press
