 Why would the band of scientists fear that there might not be pieces to pick up once the affected area population returned?
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. But the band of scientists who had rallied to his leadership privately wondered if there would be any pieces. Trinchera and Branson were totally evacuated, but even so the over-all death toll had risen above 1,000. 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. Nearly two million people were on the move, and the U. S. was faced with a gigantic wave of refugees.
 The damage would be too substantial and there would nothing left to salvage.
 They were doubting the theory by Schwartzberg.  The damage would be too substantial and there would nothing left to salvage.  They feared that no one would escape alive.  Theft in the area was also on the rise.