The OP is not heartless at all & thankfully,someone like Jen has answered them from her own experience as an ebay PS who was severly impacted the last time this happened.

When the truck caught fire with all the parcels from WA on it,no one ripped anyone to shreds for asking what happens.

VERY valid question IMO & one would HOPE that Alice from AP MAY post on this thread at some point to clarify.