The focus has turned to the next steps.

A GoFundMe page to help repair and rebuild Miss Nellie's Cafe has topped $24,000 after the Kendall business was inundated with floodwater from the Camden Haven River.

"The response to our GoFundMe page has been so humbling and astounding - we just didn't realise how many lives we had touched both locally and all over the world," Jenelle said.

Visitors from Canada, New York, France, Ireland, UK and New Zealand have been among those to reach out.

"In a matter of 24 hours from leaving the cafe in immaculate condition, it had been decimated - side verandah and garage ripped off, side wall ripped out and front windows and doors smashed in with the deluge creating devastating havoc inside," Jenelle said.

"When we finally got in to see for ourselves, the water had subsided to ankle depth and we could not have imagined the devastation."

Residents quickly came to help secure the 100-year-old building.

The family-owned business lost all its contents, equipment, food, utensils, furniture, keepsakes and even grandma's handwritten recipes.

Jenelle says they want to rebuild, the community needs them to rebuild and the community will help them rebuild.

"After trading all through COVID and thriving since lockdowns eased, we bought the cafe property off our landlord after saving hard and renting it for eight years - now almost everything is gone," she said.

"My heart breaks the most when I see the devastation in the faces of my youngest staff, my friends and then when I read the messages of support from so many of our customers, near and far, as well as complete strangers.

"I also feel defiant though and want to do this for the community, our staff and customers as much as for ourselves."

There are options for a "temporary Miss Nellie's" and many offers from tradespeople to help rebuild and repair.

"The response to our GoFundMe page is truly humbling and brings me to tears constantly," Jenelle said.

"No one can take away the memories though. My heart mostly goes to my neighbours on River Street who have lost their homes and everything they own - the cafe is my heart and soul, but my family are safe and dry at home.

"For that I am truly grateful."

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