Food drops are set to be made in coming days to remote Queensland towns cut off by floodwaters, ahead of a potential cyclone which could dump more heavy rain.

Burketown and Doomadgee have been cut off and face significant rainfall due to the potential cyclone brewing in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said.

He added those towns have not yet requested food drops, but officials are looking to deliver supplies to the outback town of Richmond in the next 48 hours despite access problems.

"In areas where the trucks can't get through we can then utilise whether supplies have to come by air, by water, or even an escort where police bring the truck in under safe conditions," Mr Crawford said on Thursday.

He also urged residents around Mt Isa not to panic-buy diesel fuel, which is reportedly starting to run low in the area, saying tankers were in transit and would soon replenish supplies.