It’s good that you were able to get a refund for your fees, but still, it must have been very disappointing. :o[
Moving from VA to AZ, there was twice when we had torrential rains, but luckily, both times we were able to use a laundromat. The second time, however, we ran out of gas in the middle of nowhere in the New Mexico part of Rockies. LONG wait for enough gas to get us to a gas station!
Yes, disappointing, but in the long run, just one of those things.
I’m glad to see that your family members made it to Europe!