In short:
Remote towns were at risk of being cut off after ex-tropical cyclone Zelia dumped heavy rain across WA's north west.
While Port Hedland escaped significant damage, streets were flooded and trees were uprooted.
What's next:
A severe weather warning is still in place for parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne districts.
Dramatic footage of a remote town underwater in WA's north west has been released by authorities after ex-tropical cyclone Zelia turned streets into rivers across the Pilbara region.
The aerial vision showed the outskirts of Marble Bar, about 200km south-east of Port Hedland, inundated with floodwaters as the cyclone dumped up to 600mm of rain in some areas.
There's also been extensive damage to the Carlindie station homestead, about 75 kilometres south-east of Port Hedland.
The extensive damage caused to the Carlindie homestead. (Supplied: Kellie Jackman)
Managing director Terry Butler-Blaxell said there had been been significant damage to the homestead building with machinery, a shed and its contents destroyed.
Carlindie homestead on the Strelley Cattle Station has been severely damaged from Cyclone Zelia. (Supplied: Terry Butler- Blaxell)
However, there had been "no injuries and the station manager and his family are in good spirits with enough food and supplies," he said.
Premier Roger Cook said while there had been no reports of major damage in Port Hedland, pastoral stations had been "hit hard".
Carlindie station is located about 75 kilometres south-east of Port Hedland. (Supplied: Kellie Jackman)
WA's Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said teams had been deployed to repair damaged homesteads.
"As soon as you remove roofs you've got issues with water ingress and damage can be quite extensive," he said.
Despite the Carlindie homestead being badly damaged by Cyclone Zelia, the station manager and his family are reportedly in good spirits. (Supplied: Terry Butler-Blaxell)
Flooding poses major threat
Flooding is now the main threat after the region was lashed with an enormous amount of rain,causing the evacuation of remote communities Warralong and Gooda Binya.
DFES deputy incident controller William Blackshaw said it was impossible to say when floodwaters would recede.
"We've had a significant amount of rain and in some cases I've seen reports of up to 600mm so far for various places,"
he said.
"The thing that is working for us at the moment is that the weather over the next few days looks pretty favourable.
"We are not expecting any significant thunderstorms or significant rainfall."
Cyclone Zelia has caused major flooding and damage to the Pilbara town of Port Hedland. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
Residents evacuated from the Warralong community described their relief at landing safely in Port Hedland after being a airlifted to safety on Saturday morning.
"The wind was intense, we had the trees fall in the house where we were living and the wind was just blowing really hard,"
resident Daniel Toby said.
"The scariest thing is, the first time I've seen that river, the Coongan [River], was overflowing and the water was coming towards the community and the road was flooded towards Marble Bar."
Warralong community leader Clarrie Robinson said he saw trees uprooted across the community, but no damage to houses.
Warralong community leader Clarrie Robinson was one of 63 people evacuated to Port Hedland. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)
"All the families and the whole community was excited to jump on a rescue helicopter," he said.
Residents in Nullagine, about 112km south east of Marble Bar, may also be evacuated as floodwaters threaten to cut off the town.
While Port Hedland avoided the major damage authorities were expecting, roads were underwater and trees were ripped out of the ground.
The town of Port Hedland is covered with debris after Cyclone Zelia made landfall on Friday. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
'Dodged a bullet'
Port Hedland residents Zach Green and Bobbi Lockyer had planned to wait out the cyclone at home, but made the last minute decision to shelter with family nearby.
Zach Green and Bobbi Lockyer in Port Hedland after a tree nearly fell on their house. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
"We just came around the corner and saw the tree and just realised how lucky we were that it's landed in between the house and Bobbi's studio as well," Mr Green said.
"We are just very, very lucky the whole of Hedland dodged a bullet with not getting the eye of cat five."
Ms Lockyer was putting on a brave face for her three children, but said inside she felt terrified.
A Port Hedland family narrowly escaped a tree falling onto their home during Cyclone Zelia. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
"When we left the house, I kind of said my goodbyes and thought we weren't going to come back to a house,"
she said.
"It was a rollercoaster of emotions. Even though we were as prepared as we could be … it was so much uncertainty.
"We were just grateful that we were together and the kids were safe."
Record breaking flood levels in the De Grey River Catchment, east of Port Hedland, will likely continue to rise until mid-next week, with the dangerous conditions forcing the closure of many roads around the Pilbara.
Authorities are assessing the damage from Cyclone Zelia in Port Hedland. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
"The peak in the river near Marble Bar was 10.2 metres, which is nearly two metres above the previous record of 8.3 metres at that location," a DFES spokesperson said.
"In all of the river gauges across the tributaries of the De Grey are showing rapid rises and expected to continue into today."
Hundreds of trees have been uprooted in Port Hedland after destructive winds from Cyclone Zelia. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
While the cyclone was now a tropical low, Commissioner Klemm warned people to remain on high alert.
"Don't attempt to drive through flooded roads, it's incredibly dangerous," he said.
"Floods can take control of a four-wheel drive in just 30 centimetres of flowing water and nine out of 10 flood water deaths on WA roads involve a local motorist."
Airport to re-open
Port Hedland Airport will re-open on Sunday after the cyclone brought operations to a grinding halt.
Flood alerts in ex- tropical cyclone Zelia's wake
Photo shows A tree that has blown over lying on top of a home.
The airport is currently being used by emergency service personnel who are travelling around the region assessing damage.
Airport chief executive Hayley Vale said there was no major damage to the facility, just minor flooding.
"We did have a bit of flooding to one part of the terminal, the water was coming thick and fast and was coming sideways through a few doors but besides that, nothing major or structural. We've come off very lightly."
Several flood warnings remain in place with communities warned they could be cut off.
Head to Emergency WA or the Bureau of Meteorology for the latest information, or tune to ABC Radio Pilbara.
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