Re Social Media... Facebook was brilliant in checking up on all my mates (and relaying information to worried family around the world). I was particularly lucky to still have power! Would have been horrendous to have to wait for 5 days...

Re the damage - there's more than what most people would think. If a chimney or verandah falls off then that's easily noticeable. The main problem comes with the internal damage to structural walls, foundations. And of course, the pipes underground.

I can't believe how lucky we are with the timing. Had this occurred 12 hours earlier - rush hour on Friday - then the death toll would have been substantially higher.