6.30am: Queensland Police say they are searching for two men on board a vessel that ran aground on rocks near Whitsunday Island on Tuesday night.
The men are believed to have emailed family members in NSW about their predicament. Those family members in turn contacted police.
"Former tropical cyclone Debbie is hindering search efforts," Queensland Police said early on Wednesday morning.
"The State Disaster Coordination Centre has requested aerial support at first light, expected around 6am.
"Both the Whitsunday and Townsville Water Police will be deployed to assist when safe."
6.15am: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll had a dire warning on Wednesday morning: "We're expecting a lot of damage".
On Tuesday night, emergency crews quickly assessed two streets in Proserpine as the storm continued to rage.
"There were 11 properties severely damaged, let alone those with moderate and minor damage," Commissioner Carroll told the ABC.
"We've had in the vicinity of 600 [emergency calls], but we know that will dramatically increase. First of all, there's no power in some areas, and no communication. Thirty thousand people have been evacuated, so they will come back and find damage.
"I think as the day goes along we will actually start seeing a lot more damage."
