'Lower than dog s***': Outrage as LOOTERS steal alcohol and cash from a Queensland restaurant - as 3000 remain stranded in the Whitsundays with ONE bottle of water each after Cyclone Debbie

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Tourists stranded on the cyclone-ravaged Whitsundays have spoken of their holiday hell after finding themselves stranded with dwindling water supplies - as looters start to target storm-damaged businesses.

At least 3,000 people are trapped on Hamilton Island and nearby Daydream Island after Cyclone Debbie smashed the holiday destinations on Tuesday.

Evacuations were cancelled last night because of the poor weather and damage to infrastructure, but conditions are not set to improve today either. 

Military helicopters could be brought in to airlift trapped holidaymakers to the mainland, reports claimed, however Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia all plan to operate flights out of Hamilton Island on Thursday.

Water supplies are quickly running out, leaving just one bottle of water for each of the 275 guests and 142 staff on Daydream Island last night.

As the recovery efforts begin, people have been warned to be vigilant in the face of looters - with opportunistic robbers stealing thousands of dollars worth of alcohol, a safe and a football tipping jar from a restaurant in the Whitsundays.

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Tourists stranded on the cyclone-ravaged Whitsundays have spoken of their holiday hell after finding themselves stranded with dwindling water supplies - as looters start to target storm-damaged businesses.

Devastation: Hamilton Island looked more like a warzone after the cyclone, as this woman's before and after pictures showed

Repairs: Residents were already hard at work fixing homes that had roofs torn off during the Category 4 storm

Tourists were left stranded on the island, with some sat outside on Thursday morning as evacuations began

This holiday resort in the Whitsundays was left badly damaged after the cyclone, which hit on Tuesday

Damage: It looked as if a bomb had gone off in this man's home on Hamilton Island as the clean-up operation began 

Homes and businesses have been severely damaged - leaving them at risk of being targeted by looters

A military helicopter landed on Daydream Island on Wednesday as the authorities assessed the best way to evacuate the thousands of people stranded with limited supplies of water

Debbie's victims have been warned to be on the look out for opportunistic looters raiding cyclone-ravaged homes and businesses.

The state disaster management team warned people not to become complacent with securing their valuables after windows, doors and even walls were ripped out of homes, leaving them unprotected and exposed to looters.

There were already reports of looting in the devastated Whitsunday Region.

Chef Damien Rogers went to his Whitsundays restaurant, Banjo, after the cyclone to discover that thousands of dollars of alcohol was missing, as was his safe. 

'This is the biggest cyclone I have ever seen and for someone to go around stealing while people are locked down, you are lower than dog s*** as far as I'm concerned,' he told the Whitsunday Times.

Military helicopters could be used to airlift tourists from the Hamilton and Daydream islands on Thursday, the Courier Mail reported.

Jac Whitham, who is stranded on the island with his family, wrote on Facebook that a chopper had landed on Daydream Island but quickly took off again. 

Qantas and Jetstar and Virgin Australia all plan to operate flights out of Hamilton Island, with the airport opening again on Thursday morning. 

Bus transfers are being arranged from some hotels, with thousands expected to converge on the terminal.

Damage to jetties and other infrastructure, as well as the tumultuous weather, has made it near-impossible for boats to reach the islands. 

A luxury resort on Hayman Island was looking a little worse for wear following the cyclone, but this guest was still having fun

Residents are seen clearing a road near Hamilton Island's airport on Wednesday as 3,000 people waited to be evacuated 

One couple's holiday suite was left in tatters following the massive cyclone, which hit the Whitsundays on Tuesday

Trees lay in the road on Hamilton Island on Thursday as tourists ventured outside and tried to get back home

Airlie Beach was also hit by the cyclone as it made landfall, with idyllic coastal town seriously affected by Debbie

One woman was able to stay smiling despite the horrific conditions on the storm-ravaged islan

Banjos restaurant near Airlie Beach was targeted by looters who stole a safe, football tips jar and expensive alcohol

'They've been through a significant experience, but they are safe. That's the main thing,' Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Mark Roche told 9 News.

He said the emergency services would work quickly to get people out. 

Debbie left thousands still trapped on the islands having to make do with minimal water and food, and no power or mobile reception. 

Among them was Emily Franzman, who us staying in a holiday home on Hamilton Island. 

She said communication from island authorities had been poor and said she was out of water. 

'We have absolutely no water and are stuck here because of the trees,' she said.

'Can't get in contact with anybody. I understand the circumstances but this really isn't good enough considering how well the guests have been looked after at the hotels.' 

Dean Langley is also stranded on Hamilton Island and told 9 News that the clean-up operation was underway.

'We've had thunderstorms overnight. A'l the roofs that we re blown off in the cyclone now have torrential rain coming through,' he said.

'It's an emergency evacuation situation. The weather has just been terrible.

'Everyone seems to be fine, we are just looking forward to trying to get home and just get on a plane.' 

Thousands of people were left stranded on cyclone ravaged Hamilton Island (pictured) because poor weather and damaged infrastructure cancelled a planned evacuation

The destructive nature of Cyclone Debbie left residents and tourists of Hamilton Island (pictured) without power

The idyllic Hamilton Island (pictured) has been left decimated by Cyclone Debbie

Roofs were ripped off buildings as the destructive storm wrecked havoc on Hamilton Island  

Guests have been advised not to visit Hamilton Island for the next two months as the clean-up takes plac

Smashed-up boats litter the shore line of Hamilton Island after the area was hit by Cyclone Debbie

The category four storm inflicted significant damage on the idyllic holiday island

Shocking images surfacing on social media reveal the extent of damage on Hamilton Island

Hamilton Island's jetty was smashed to ruins by the extreme weather, with boats piled high onto rocks 

Trees were stripped bare throughout Hamilton Island, with parts of the idyllic holiday spot almost unrecogniseable 

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The trail of destruction across North Queensland after Cyclone Debbie ended its torment

Crestfallen Dave McInerney, who owns Shute Harbour Motel in the coastal town south of Airlie Beach, said he would like shut down his damaged business.  

'I've seen some pretty bad storms but this one took the cake,' he said. 

Cyclone Debbie left behind a trail of destruction on Hamilton Island, with trees stripped bare, roofs blown off and smashed-up boats littering the shore line.

Shocking images surfacing on social media reveal the extent of damage that five straight hours of the category four storm inflicted on the idyllic holiday islands.

Hamilton Island resident Mat Garner described the terrifying moment the cyclone tore through the island.   

'The roar was so loud, wind was phenomenal, all the windows rattled and shook violently,' Mr Garner told the Whitsunday Times.

'There are houses with roofs ripped off, glass panels smashed, guttering missing, trees uprooted, golf buggies shredded.'

Another resident, Lissa Morris, said the island looked like it had 'been napalmed'.  

'It's devastating, we can't get out of the house and outside so many trees have been uprooted it looks like Hamilton Island's been napalmed,' Ms Morris told news.com.au.   

Onlookers survey the damage to Hamilton Island, including a roof which was blown from its structure and almost ended up in the water 

Hamilton Island was littered with fallen trees which were no match for the intensity of Cyclone Debbie 

Cyclone Debbie battered Hamilton Island for five straight hours, leaving behind a trail of destruction 

Smashed windows are now a common sight throughout Hamilton Island which bore the brunt of Cyclone Debbie 

Guests have been advised not to visit Hamilton Island for the next two months as the clean-up takes place, according to a social media post by an official island account. 

Meanwhile about 50 people trapped in floodwaters near Mackay are the subject of a rescue effort on Thursday afternoon. 

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll says rescue efforts are underway to reach 11 people near Eton, in the Pioneer Valley, southwest of the city.

About 40 people are also awaiting rescue in the Homebush area, just outside Mackay, with swift water crews working to move them from the West Leagues Club. 

A heavily pregnant woman was evacuated from a house in Homebush earlier on Thursday and taken to the Eton rural fire shed, Ms Carroll said, adding that she's since been taken by helicopter to West Leagues Club.

She said there had been 38 water rescue incidents overnight and asked stranded people to be patient.

'We are definitely getting to you. We know where you are. We have got the helicopters working in that area, as well as swift water rescue and SES. Please be patient with us, we will get to you as soon as humanly possible.' 

Trees ripped from the ground came within inches of tearing through some buildings 

Dozens of trees were felled on Hamilton Island as Cyclone Debbie tore through the area 

Destructive winds battered Hamilton Island as Cyclone Debbie pummeled the island 

She said some people had had to scramble onto the roofs of homes and cars to escape flood waters.

'From about 9pm onwards, there was flash flooding particularly in that area, so we did have people up on the top level of their houses, reports of people on the roofs of their houses and roofs of their cars,' she said.

'So it was an extremely difficult period of time, from about 9 o'clock, to 2am, 3am, this morning ... but we believe everyone in that area is safe. We haven't got reports of missing people at the moment, so we are quite confident that everyone is safe at this stage and accounted for.'  

Two fisherman were rescued after their boat ran aground on rocks on the western side of Whitsunday Island.

Two fisherman were rescued after their boat ran aground on rocks on the western side of Whitsunday Island.

More than 63,000 people remain without power across North Queensland on Wednesday, and isolated communities in the north are still out of contact and unable to call for help. 

At Shute Harbour, the ferocity of Cyclone Debbie forced large boats from the water and onto the mainland

Boats were smashed against rocks at Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach when the storm hit

Can't see the sea from the trees: boats became moored on dry land after proving no match for Cyclone Debbie

Authorities have received 600 calls for help but the number could rise into the thousands.

The army will join emergency crews, including 50 personnel from NSW and the ACT, to assess damage. 

The Insurance Council of Australia has declared a 'catastrophe', with 2000 claims already lodged. 

Golf buggies which would normally be buzzing around Hamilton Island lay idle in the wake of Cyclone Debbie 

Hayman Island also felt the full force of Cyclone Debbie, with roofs destroyed by the category 4 storm 

Cockatoos are seen seeking shelter inside a Hayman Island residence 

Debris fell from the ceiling of this Hayman Island property when Cyclone Debbie thundered through the area 

The power of the cyclone was enough to rip a glass door from the hinges as this picture on Hayman Island shows 

Doors and chairs were strewn across the ground of this Hayman Island property in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie 

A common sight at Airlie Beach in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie: residents queue for food and other supplies

Emergency relief supplies and equipment for those affected by Cyclone Debbie are loaded onto the Royal Australian Navy Ship at Port Brisbane