As the record-breaking floodwaters slowly recede in northern Western Australia, stories of kindness and strange scenes are emerging.
In the town of Derby, locals head out late at night to try save a stranded calf under moonlight.
In Broome, volunteers giggle over donated fake eyelashes and lingerie as they pack resupplies.
And in Fitzroy Crossing, every bottle of beer is deliberately destroyed in a bid to keep residents safe as floodwaters surge.
During natural disasters, the human stories can be lost amid headlines and hyperbole. Here are some of them.
Mariah the miracle chicken
Teenager Majella Ross is from Fitzroy Crossing, but as the flood crisis intensifies, she is sweating it out at a shed in Broome.
She's one of two dozen volunteers sorting through clothes, toys and toiletries donated to flood victims.
The 14-year-old understands the impacts better than most — her relatives had to flee their homes as the floodwaters rose.
"Lots of my aunties didn't want to leave," she tells the ABC.
"They're in their 70s, and they don't want to leave because they want to help clean up."
Majella's sister had to make tough decisions as the floodwaters rose.
"She took her two dogs but she left the chickens inside the house," she explains.
Miraculously, despite the house being engulfed, her favourite pet chicken Mariah survived the ordeal.
"We were not expecting it to survive because it was underwater," Majella says.
"We were like, 'the chicken survived, the chicken survived, Mariah is alive!'"
"If the chicken can survive it, everything will be OK."
The volunteer drive has been organised by nurse and Nyikina Nyul Nyul woman Emily Hunter.
"The kindness of the community has been overwhelming," she says.
"Local business have been so generous with donations and letting us use this space ... and cars keep pulling up and dropping off more stuff.
"There was even a spunky guy that came and set up the gazebo for us!
"I think it really hit home when we saw the footage of girls being airlifted off a roof in Fitzroy Crossing with absolutely nothing."
Town with no beer
Among the acts of kindness have been a handful of incidents that have infuriated local community leaders.
While the floodwaters engulfed homes and threatened to destroy priceless Aboriginal artwork, teenagers ransacked local shops and pilfered alcohol.
In the midst of the crisis, the local pub owner posted,
"To the looters breaking in to get alcohol over the past days — shame on you."
"We would like to give a shout-out to the local police here in Fitzroy Crossing whom despite multiple demands on them, were swift in their response.
"Finally, after being able to assess the damage, we have made the decision to destroy all alcohol kept on site."
They shared a photo of thousands of crushed and emptied beer cans laying outside the property.
The hotel has had to close while the owners — a local Aboriginal corporation — prepare to repair and rebuild.
Prime Minister visits
Other locals had unexpected run-ins with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his weekend tour of flood-affected areas.
Local shire councillor Geoff Davis was offered a lift to get from his flood-damaged home to where dignitaries were visiting on Monday morning.
"Our place is absolutely covered in mud, and when I jumped in the helicopter I didn't have a chance to wash my feet or anything," he explained to ABC Regional Drive the next day.
"So they dropped me off at the rec centre and I just walked in and yeah, I guess I was a bit odd-looking.
"But I guess those muddy feet showed the reality, so it was good they got to see that."
Geoff Davis was able to spend several minutes talking with Mr Albanese about the priorities for the recovery effort — a moment thankfully recorded on camera.
Prisoners pitch in
In an unexpected twist, prisoners are cooking fresh meals for evacuated families — who are in many cases friends and family.
There are still about 280 people who were flown from their homes at the peak of the crises, and are now staying in temporary accommodation in Derby.
Inmates at the West Kimberley Regional Prison have been preparing them hearty meals such as curry and casseroles, which are delivered to the motels and shelters around town.
“It’s also really rewarding for the prisoners,” prison Superintendent Heather Murchie said.
“Most of them have family members impacted by the floods, so they’re happy to cook meals and do whatever they can.”
Animal rescue
Another focus has been rescuing the thousands of cows, pigs and wallabies washed downstream.
Disturbing photographs have emerged of cattle bobbing lifelessly in the Fitzroy River, while native marsupials cluster on the tiny remaining land banks.
Resourceful locals have used nets to scoop frantically paddling wallabies from the vast expanse of brown water.
In Derby, locals gathered under moonlight to try to guide a distressed young bull that emerged from the floodwaters near town
"Well done everyone — someone please nominate them for the RSPCA awards when they open!" one appreciative resident wrote on the local noticeboard.
As the water levels drop new challenges are emerging, including mould, homelessness and mosquitoes.
Kimberley communities appear to determined to meet each with characteristic stoicism and humour.
