Thank you for your kind wishes! I did get in touch with my friends - their power is still out, but they are fine, no property destruction.

And my goodness, please don't feel guilty because you are having fun and enjoying life, whilst at the same time someone you know might not be. Knowing that "the heart of life is good" is like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel; at least it is for me. And nothing bad happened to me - just uncomfortable moments and a few hours of fright. I've friends who won't be getting power back for several weeks - the destruction in their area was quite bad. But no one died, and that alone makes it worth bearing with a light heart, no matter how much the value of the destruction. Material things can be regained, but life is much more precious. So please enjoy the time you spend with your family, and don't fret or feel guilty about enjoying your holiday.