Burketown residents urged to evacuate as flooding continues in ...

Police are urging all residents in Burketown, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, to evacuate today as a flood worse than any seen before sweeps through the town.

Key points:More rain fell in saturated catchments in the 48 hours to 9am todayThe Albert River at Burketown airstrip rose higher than the 2011 record earlier this weekGovernment disaster assistance has been made available to residents and councils

Power will be cut off to the community and sewerage systems have been compromised, Queensland Police said in a statement on Saturday.

"It is not safe to stay," the statement said.

"Residents who have chosen to remain should seek assistance from police."

About half of Burketown's 150 residents have been evacuated and more will be transported out today, authorities say.

About half of Burketown's residents have been flown to safety.(Supplied)

At least 65 millimetres of rain fell in already saturated catchments for the Nicholson and Leichhardt rivers in the 48 hours to 9am today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, which had issued a major flood warning.

The Albert River at the Burketown airstrip swelled higher than seven metres on Friday afternoon, exceeding the 2011 record flood level of 6.78m.

Further rises are likely to continue today and a record peak is expected on Sunday.

Helicopters are being used to fly residents out of Burketown to neighbouring communities.

Cattle are herded to higher ground by helicopter from the floodwater at Gregory.(Supplied: Anne M Webber)'Up to their necks'

Fourth generation Burketown resident Shannon Moren was evacuated with her three daughters to Mount Isa yesterday.

She said there was concern about loss of cattle from the grazing properties across the region.

"I checked on my parents' cattle property the other day and you can see cattle up to their necks in the water, literally swimming for their lives," she said.

"You can see some of the bodies floating on the water.

"It's really distressing."

Longtime Burketown resident Shannon Moren was evacuated to Mount Isa yesterday.(ABC North West Queensland: Emily Dobson)

She said the flood was the worse she had seen in the region.

"We're used to floods out here," Ms Moren said.

"But in my lifetime I haven't seen this, my parents haven't seen this."

Burketown residents are being flown to neighbouring communities via helicopter because the airstrip is partially flooded.(Supplied: Chris Shan Moren)Disaster assistance available

Telstra continued to try to restore phone services that had been out intermittently in the Gregory region this week, but efforts were hampered by demand for helicopters.

Disaster assistance has been made available to residents and councils impacted by the widespread flooding across the gulf region.

Streets in Burketown have been inundated.(Supplied)

Residents could access payments of up to $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five to cover the costs of essential items such as medicine, food and clothing.

Councils would receive financial support to cover the cost of disaster operations and the clean-up.