In 35 years as an Ingham resident, she had never seen anything like it.
"It was terrifying ... it was probably a foot away," she told AAP.
Ms Patti and her husband have been isolated since the weekend after 1700mm of rain fell in just days, triggering floodwaters that cut off Ingham and claimed two lives.
Flooding cut power, disrupted telecommunications and ensured dwindling food and fuel supplies, with Ingham residents at one stage told they had no running water.
There were also fears for a man who had allegedly been swept away but police on Thursday said witnesses had seen him exit floodwaters and called off their search.
Despite securing precious fuel this week, Ms Patti's household has been running their generator sparingly to keep the fridge cold for her husband's insulin medication.
The couple haven't even attempted to go to the supermarket, opting instead to rely on what supplies they have.Â
"Food is the least of our worries," Ms Patti said.
Recovery efforts had been stalled by wet weather with floodwater levels still stubbornly high on Thursday.
But progress is being made with power restored and the prime minister visiting a vital bridge rebuild outside Ingham on Thursday.
The army has arrived to help construct a temporary crossing at Ollera Creek Bridge which was destroyed by floodwaters, cutting off major arterial link, the Bruce Highway.
The crossing was completed late on Thursday and will initially be open for emergency services only in order to deploy much needed supplies.
Flood-hit residents can access a bus that transports locals over the nearby rail line but only if they have organised for someone to pick them up.
Locals have been warned building a two-way bridge for public use may take days.
But the crossing's construction provided another ray of hope for local mayor Ramon Jayo, who said the area had been "hurting".
"This bridge alone is going to make a big difference," he said at the bridge rebuild.
Locals got another shot in the arm when the sub station that had been inundated for days fired up late on Thursday, restoring precious power to Ingham's CBD including 522 homes and businesses.
The sodden community needed some good news after being one of the worst hit by flooding, with two fatalities.
A major flood warning remains for the nearby Herbert River after reaching levels that threatened to break a 1967 record.
The prime minister began the day in Townsville visiting the Disaster Management Centre, announcing an $8 million community relief fund and government disaster recovery payments.
He then watched Australian Defence Force personnel assist the crossing construction, with army helicopters borrowed from Singapore to help deliver essentials to hard-hit regions.
Another 300 emergency services personnel have arrived in the north as it braces for more wet weather.
A severe weather warning is likely on Friday for heavy rainfall that may lead to "life threatening" flash flooding in the north, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A number of flood warnings are in place from the far north's Cairns to Saint Lawrence, central Queensland.
Ergon Energy crews have restored power to more than 20,000 customers to date across the north.
Insurers have received almost 4,000 storm and flood related claims, saying it was too early to estimate the total damage bill.
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