Cyclone Marcia: Qld lashed by category five cyclone

The Australian Defence Force is set to help survey cyclone-hit towns in central Queensland today as the region begins counting the cost of Cyclone Marcia.

The fierce category 5 system made landfall near Shoalwater Bay on Friday morning before grazing Yeppoon and passing over Rockhampton.

Leanne Smith, whose daughter and two grandchildren, aged 7 and 11, were evacuated from their Yeppoon home, said she couldn't believe what was left when she returned to survey the damage.

"I was actually really emotionally affected by it," Ms Smith told AAP.

"It's just not something you can really explain to people, it's actually quite devastating."

Miraculously, the family's goldfish survived the storm and was found swimming around in its small tank surrounded by the home's fallen walls.

"It was called Pig, but my grandson Tarn has renamed it Superfish after this," she laughed.

The system was gradually downgraded to a category 3 cyclone as it tracked down the coast, leaving a trail of destruction with many homes having roofs torn off.

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Rockhampton local Phil Tout was inside his home when the roof was torn off.

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Cyclone Marcia: Qld lashed by category five cyclone