Like many rural residents, she had a small menagerie of her own animals, as well as neighborhood wildlife she provides water for.

On Monday, she went back for her horses.

"I couldn't leave the horses there," she said.

"A lot of people told me to let them go - that seemed dangerous when people are driving around and fire engines are trying to get past.

"Willinga Park were really lovely and said they would take them, and my neighbour helped me walk them around. How kind are people?"

Although Ms Perno said she was overwhelmed by the kindness of neighbours, family and friends, waiting was tough.

"It's endless anxiousness," she said.

"No one knows the answer, we don't know what the weather's going to do.

"And you have to go about your day like it's not happening. People who have stayed, their kids are so worried - but you have to do what you have to do."