Police revealed that Thursday night had seen nearly 150 999 calls and as many trees down across the island. Several roads were impassable for hours yesterday.
Tree surgeons and roofers in particular were rushed off their feet to deal with storm damage.
But few people found the day as difficult as Mel Weatherburn, whose mother Theresa and her stepfather suffered the collapse of the gable end of their house.
Falling blocks crushed their car, which had Ms Weatherburn’s mother’s wheelchair inside.
‘It was so upsetting being so close but unable to help,’ she said.
‘I only live round the corner but it was just too dangerous for me to leave my home. I came round first thing this morning to see the damage and to figure out what to do, but what do you even do in this situation? Nothing is open yet.’
Her parents remained in the house all day, with its roof space exposed on one side.
‘I didn’t realise it was this bad,’ she said.
‘We’ve shown my mum the pictures and videos.’
But many islanders rallied around to help out the family.
‘Impact Scaffolding and East Coast Construction have worked their socks off all day to get the giant hole covered,’ said Ms Weatherburn.
‘East Coast Construction didn’t have any available scaffolding but bumped into someone from Impact Scaffolding, and they prioritised coming here to help.’
The car has been written off and will be towed away. The family has sourced a wheelchair to borrow.
People who were evacuated from damaged flats in the Green Lanes, St Peter Port, shortly before midnight on Thursday, were told yesterday afternoon that they would not be allowed to return to their homes last night, and popped back briefly to collect things before spending a second night in a hotel.
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