Brigadier Christopher Field said the Australian defence force had helicopters and disaster relief vessel HMAS Choules ready to go once access to affected areas could be worked out.

"We'll assess the damage in the morning ... And make sure we can get people to the area as quickly as possible," he said.

"We'll have to assess how easy it is to get into those areas, particularly via road and air."

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Townsville-based Brigadier Field would be leading the cyclone recovery effort.

"In this role, he led whole-of-government co-ordination, and a team to design and develop the strategic, operational, and tactical-level disaster recovery and reconstruction plans, Ms Palaszczuk said.

"He is not only a highly regarded leader, he also has extensive experience in the Australian Army, co-ordinating logistics and planning."

The brigadier said the army already had people in the disaster-affected areas - a crew arrived in Bowen on Monday - and they would help work out what was needed.

"The engineering capabilities that the ADF have are really designed to clear debris and get particularly roads open so that the community can go about their business," he said.

"And depending on what state and local governments need, we'll apply these effects as needed."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the thoughts and prayers of all Australians were with the people of north Queensland, as Cyclone Debbie crossed the coastline.

The prime minister told Parliament on Tuesday conditions in the region were "deteriorating rapidly" as destructive winds of up to 270km/h were being felt from the Category 4 storm.

"The federal and Queensland governments have prepared well for the onset of this cyclone. We have activated the disaster response plan," Mr Turnbull said.

"There's 1000 people deployed or on stand-by to assist, and we thank them for their courage, commitment and selfless service," Mr Turnbull said.

The Premier said the brigadier's experience as Chief of Operations for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority after the 2011 Brisbane floods and Cyclone Yasi meant he was the man for the job.

"Communities in the north have been through a lot in the past few days and I want to reassure people we are here and assistance is at hand," she said.

"I thank Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for making Brigadier Field available for this important role."

Labor leader Bill Shorten also said his thoughts were with the people of north Queensland.

"I think that all Australians are thinking, hoping and praying for the best possible outcomes for the people caught up in this terrible storm," Mr Shorten said.

The federal government is also working with banks and insurers to ensure consideration is given to claims as a result of the cyclone.

Medical, counselling and search and rescue teams have been deployed along with Army engineers ready to clear roads and other Navy personnel to clear debris from harbours.

"This is a very pressing task for the Australian Defence Force; we hope that the emergency is not as considerable as predicted," Defence Minister Marise Payne told the Senate.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan told Parliament the disaster response plan would allow the fast-tracking of requests for non-financial assistance from the Australian government.

"It includes requests for ADF capability, but also unique commonwealth capacity such as satellite imagery," Mr Keenan said.

Two federal emergency management assistance experts had been embedded with Queensland authorities.

Once the cyclone passed, jointly funded natural disaster recovery and relief arrangements would be put in place, allowing the reimbursement of up to 75 per cent of state spending.

Human Services Minister Alan Tudge said the national emergency call centre had been put on standby to help the Queensland government.

"This centre would allow the Queensland government agencies to divert excess calls made to their non-triple zero emergency lines during the response and recovery effort to ensure they're answered promptly," Mr Tudge told parliament.

He said if the cyclone was formally declared a "major disaster", departmental staff and social workers would be deployed to community evacuation centres, as well as a mobile service bus.

With AAP