Emergency services will begin the recovery phase as the monsoonal trough in north Queensland begins to ease after more than 800 people were moved to higher ground.
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About 13 schools reopened on Wednesday with eight more expected to open their doors to students on Thursday, including Airville, Halifax, Mutarnee, Osborne, Ravenswood, Townsville Central, Townsville South and Townsville West state schools.
Education Minister Grace Grace said her department was continuing to work with other government agencies to to reopen flood-affected state schools safely, with assessments being undertaken.
Ms Grace said Department of Education executive director Hayley Stevenson was putting processes in place for staff and students to access support services, including access for Headspace, Lifeworks and Kids Helpline.
Insurance claims for the Townsville floods have already hit $80 million, with the damage bill set to soar as more residents return to their waterlogged homes.
The Insurance Council of Australia said it had received 6525 claims, with more than half of those lodged within 24 hours.
ICA communications manager Campbell Fuller rejected warnings from Townsville mayor Jenny Hill that north Queenslanders would not accept unfair premium rises following the floods. *
"Right now we're focused on fixing properties," he said.
"Any talk of premium rises is premature."
Cr Hill urged insurance companies to process claims quickly to help residents get back on their feet.
"The recovery effort is going to take some time, but the job becomes that much easier when insurance companies act as responsible corporate citizens," she said.
The ICA said insurers in Australia have used a standard definition for flood since 2012, which includes water escaping from a dam, including an intentional release.
Meanwhile, the federal government has relaxed the rules on who can access disaster funding following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's tour of flood-struck Townsville.
Previously, residents could only apply for federal government relief if they suffered damage to at least 25 per cent of their homes but that rule has been abolished, and they can now apply if water has gone over floorboards in their house.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Mark Roche said hundreds of emergency services staff were assisting.
"We've been involved in well over 40 rescues with our swift water rescue crews and assisted in the relocation of well over 800 people to higher ground," he said.
"SES flood boats have been travelling through the streets and knocking on doors ensuring that the community is safe.
"We are here for the long term.
"This event is not over yet, we will start to transition into the recovery mode."
Bureau of Meteorology acting state manager Richard Wardle said they were starting to see movement.
"We’ve got a tropical low that’s embedded on that trough, they're about 100 kilometres north of Julia Creek," he said.
"We are seeing it move towards the north-east and it's actually going to break the stagnation of rain we’ve seen for a couple of days."
Mr Wardle said he expected the severe weather conditions to ease and move on early Thursday or Friday, however, some warnings remained in place.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said a second recovery hub had been opened, 13 schools were re-opened and the Queensland Flood Appeal had been launched with an initial donation of $200,000 from the government.
"I just want to shout out to all of the people out there doing it tough and just say we are with you every step of the way and we know that in some of our communities, we know people are isolated especially in areas of Giru, Halifax, Charters Towers, Richmond, Hughenden and Julia Creek," She said.
"We are doing everything we possibly can to get food supplies to you and to make sure we are listening and responding to your concerns."
There were 300 people in evacuation centres, who would be moved to safe housing as soon as possible and more than 13,000 applications had been received for recovery payments with $1.2 million already paid out.
"After seeing firsthand the challenges faced in Townsville yesterday, I asked for changes to be made last night to the eligibility for the disaster relief payment," Mr Morrison tweeted on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after visiting the city.
The damage assessments included 369 properties with 15 severe and 76 moderate and 9,000 people were without power with the number expected to increase in the next few days.
Ms Palaszczuk said she urged those wanting to donate to the flood appeal to approach registered organisations, including Australian Red Cross, UnitingCare Queensland, The Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society and GIVIT.
"This has been an extraordinary event," she said.
"I know that the people of Townsville, the people out west, anyone who has experienced this monsoonal trough and experienced flooding has been doing it tough but I need you to know that Queensland is behind you."
*Correction: This story has been amended to remove this sentence: “ICA Communications Manager Campbell Fuller told AAP they expected the bill from this event to be in line with ex-Cyclone Oswald, which caused $1.26 billion of damage in Queensland and northern NSW in 2013.” The ICA advises there is no predicted damage bill at this stage.
- with AAP
