THE last 90 residents of Theodore were evacuated from the Central Queensland town yesterday, while some residents on higher ground have remained after a two-day operation that has involved nine civilian helicopters.

Banana Shire Council deputy mayor Maureen Clancy said one Australian Defence Force black hawk helicopter had joined nine civilian choppers yesterday in evacuating the town.

She said about 210 people were evacuated on Tuesday, with the final third of the town’s population to be moved to Moura yesterday.

The townspeople of Theodore are being housed at a motel in Moura, as well as the Anglo Coal mine single workers accommodation.

Mrs Clancy said she expected it would be at least three days before the Theodore residents would be able to return to their homes.

“Today is really a day across the region where we are trying to replenish supplies, and get those isolated people to higher ground and safer locations,” she said.

“There’s still some choppers flying around as well as one black hawk helicopter, and the police have a prescence in Theodore, mainly in a role of property protection more than anything,” Mrs Clancy said.

Theodore resident and president of the Theodore Cotton Growers Association, Fleur Anderson, said she had remained with family in the town, but had moved to a relative’s home on the outskirts of the town.

“We don’t know when the floodwaters will recede around Theodore; I think it could be two weeks, but when they do, it’s going to be a real test of our community spirit,” she said.

“We will need to really pull together to overcome this flood and the economic devastation it has caused on the town,” Ms Anderson said.