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.

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.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred swept through southern Queensland and northern NSW over the weekend. As the storm clouds parted – and electricity came back on – we asked local businesses what we can do to support them.