Tropical Cyclone Alfred lashed the east coast but thousands remain without power.More than 30,000 properties remain without power across south-east Queensland, with about half of the outages on the Gold Coast.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon but direct landfalls are.

Australia's east coast has been pounded by rain, wind and surf for a week, with Brisbane recording its highest daily rainfall in half a century.

Articles and videos about Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred exposes 130-year-old shipwreck in Australia on FOX 35 Orlando.

A kangaroo called “Skippy" was rescued after Tropical Cyclone Alfred recently battered Australia, producing heavy rains and flash flooding along the coast.

According to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), insurers have now received over 34,000 claims across southeast Queensland and northern New South

Rainfall is easing, rivers are receding and the threat of heavy rainfall is disappearing,' says Queensland premier

Ex-TC Alfred is the first cyclone to hit southeast Queensland since ex-TC Zoe in 1974. Some footage of that event can be seen here, courtesy of David Hill’s father, who recorded the damage on the Gold Coast with his 8mm camera.

Northern Territory Fire and Emergency Services will fly a team of five staff and volunteers to Queensland Thursday to assist the region devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.