 About how long does the tragedy take place?
It has happened a hundred times in the long history of Earth—and, sooner or later, will happen again! They found themselves on the scene of what was fast becoming the most violent and widespread earthquake North America—probably the world—has ever seen in historic times. East, where sharp reports and muffled wheezes told of continued buckling and dropping, the earth trembled downward. On the actual scene of the disaster (or the scenes ; it is impossible to speak of anything this size in the singular) there was a horrifying confusion. Certainly by 7 October it had to be officially admitted that there was an exodus of epic proportion. Nearly two million people were on the move, and the U. S. was faced with a gigantic wave of refugees.
 About three months total.
 About three months total.  Over the course of a month.  It all took place between September and October.  It's all over in a matter of hours.