Evacuees from a flooded outback town fear they might have to start all over again and the pets they left behind could be taken by crocodiles lurking in swollen waters.
The entire Daly River community of over 400 people has been evacuated, with 215 bussed 230km to an evacuation centre at the Darwin Showgrounds while others made their own way to safety.
River levels in their Northern Territory town are tipped to exceed major flood thresholds on the weekend.
An emergency declaration on Wednesday gave incident controller Superintendent David Moore the power to order a full evacuation of the town.
Floodwaters were expected to pass the 14-metre level, which meant water and sewerage would be cut off in the town, Supt Moore said.
Daly River resident Aaron Green said his town was flood-prone and copped a bad one in 2018.
"We had to start all over again, this one, probably the same, we lose a lot of stuff," he told AAP outside the Foskey Pavilion evacuation centre on Thursday.
Evacuees could only carry one bag per person, so if homes were flooded, they stood to lose their clothes, bedding, ovens, fridges, freezers, washing machines and kitchenware, Mr Green said.
He hoped emergency grants would be forthcoming to help Daly River residents recover.
"Hopefully, our pets are safe. We've got saltwater crocodiles and dogs are food," he said.
"I feel sorry for the ones who have left their pets behind. I managed to get our pets out because they are like family to us."
Supt Moore said there were about 240 dogs in the community and not all had made it to kennels set up for family pets, but animal welfare teams on the ground were providing food and water and watching over them.
Residents would be returned home as soon as possible but Supt Moore said given high flood levels that could be up to two weeks away, with assessment teams going in first to gauge damage and safety.
At this stage it was not possible to determine how many houses might be inundated, he said.
The NT Department of Children and Families is leading the welfare response to the emergency.
The evacuation centre provided a safe place to stay for Daly River residents, department CEO Brent Warren said.
"Our focus is on ensuring children, families and vulnerable people are safe, comfortable and supported while flood risks remain," he said in a statement.
Bureau of Meteorology NT manager Shenagh Gamble told reporters on Thursday afternoon the Daly River was at a moderate flood level but was expected to reach a major flood level on Saturday.
