Christine Smith was camping with her family on the Gold Coast when she woke in the middle of the night to evacuation orders as severe storm cells battered the region.
A number of storm cells hit the southern coast and its hinterland overnight and more rolled in from offshore on Friday morning, affecting Coolangatta, Miami, Southport, Springbrook, Mount Tamborine and Little Nerang Dam.
Ms Smith said the extreme rain came as a shock.
