Homeaway does have something to do with the deposit when you pay through them. They cover you for an uninhabitable property upon arrival. I think that it is safe to assume that a cottage that overlooked the water on the French side is most likely uninhabitable, especially when I cannot make contact with the owner. However it is correct to say that the fine print states that a natural disaster negates that. I am not upset with the owner as this is way beyond his control and I am not upset with Homeaway. I just want others to be aware of the exception for their future knowledge.