Police are appealing for public help after the theft of generators and power tools being used as part of the Cyclone Ului recovery effort in north Queensland.

Two generators, as well as chainsaws and circular saws, have been stolen from properties in Cannonvale, East Makay and Glenella.

Senior Constable Angela Warlcon says residents should take steps to protect their equipment.

“Make note of the serial numbers of those items and when they’ve finished with them ensure that they store them safely,” she said.

“Even if it includes taking them inside and placing them in the laundry, somewhere you wouldn’t usually store those items, but at this time for security, lock them away.”

Constable Warlcon says the thefts appear to be the work of opportunitists.

“It is extremely disappointing because there’s a lot of good work going on out in the community … people are really banding together, neighbours are sticking together and assisting each other and even strangers are offering assistance,” she said.

“This is disappointing when opportunistic crime like this occurs.”

Meanwhile, 50 electricity generators have been flown into Mackay from Brisbane to help restore power to rural communities affected by the cyclone.

The Mackay district disaster coordinator says the generators will be deployed to Midge Point, north of Mackay, and inland to Eungella.

Superintendent Rowan Bond says the generators will be used to power individual homes.

“A request was made from Mackay Disaster Coordination Centre for generators to go to those areas where the electrical infrastructure is damaged to the extent that they need small generators to power individual houses,” Superintendent Bond said.

“Those are being deployed to specific areas and they’ve already been allocated.”

Ergon Energy says there are still 5,500 homes without power across the region.

A spokesman says it is focusing on reconnecting rural areas north of Mackay, communities in the Pioneer Valley and areas around Proserpine and Shute Harbour.

Ergon has brought in a helicopter to re-string high voltage powerlines in Shute Harbour today.