The natural disaster in the United States lasted for four days. After four consecutive days of devastating 10.7 magnitude earthquakes, the entire country, including its landscape, was drastically altered, leaving behind only endless trauma and despair.
On the ruins, the once bustling city is now nothing but broken walls and rubble, like historical relics, telling the cruelty of the disaster.
The streets were filled with rubble and debris, vehicles were crushed into scrap metal, and buildings lay scattered like building blocks. The air was thick with dust and the stench of blood, making it hard to breathe.
The casualties were devastating, and rescuers struggled to search for survivors amidst the ruins. What they witnessed was the shattering of countless families, the cries of those who had lost loved ones, and the helpless eyes of children. Homes that were once filled with laughter and joy had become a living hell, and beneath every rubble lay the despair of lost lives.
In the makeshift hospital, the tents were overflowing with the injured, and the medical staff were overwhelmed, yet still unable to meet all the needs. Many lost their lives due to the lack of timely treatment, while others faced irreversible damage such as amputation and disability. Their eyes were filled with fear and despair for the future, unsure how to cope with this sudden disaster.
People gathered in makeshift shelters, huddling together for a sliver of warmth. They spoke of lost loved ones, of their former homes, and of the endless suffering brought on by the disaster. Many began to question the meaning of life, filled with despair for the future. They didn't know if they could rebuild their homes after this catastrophe, or regain their will to live.
On these ruins, the once-thriving city seems to have died, leaving only endless sorrow and despair. Yet, even in the face of such immense challenges, humanity will still seek a glimmer of hope. Despite the arduous road and the unknown future, people will strive to rebuild their homes and write a new chapter with love and courage.
But at this moment, on this land ravaged by disaster, despair and pain hang like dark clouds over everyone's heart.
They initially thought things would be better elsewhere, but as some communications were restored, they realized that the situation was similar across the United States.
Everyone placed their hopes on the government, but it wasn't long before they learned that almost all government officials had died, and even the US military was basically gone. Even if some survived, not many had.
The entire United States had descended into anarchy. Only some rural areas remained inhabited. These people lacked both status and power, and were utterly incapable of representing the will of the nation, even with virtually no resources at their disposal.
They're already doing quite well if they can manage their own little plot of land.
The more prosperous the area, the heavier the casualties. On the contrary, rural areas were not greatly affected; even if the ground cracked, it did not have a significant impact. As long as one did not fall into a crack in the ground, they could generally survive.
The vast majority of people in the city were buried in the rubble. Less than one in ten survived. Even those who were lucky enough to survive were mostly emaciated and suffered injuries of varying degrees; less than one-twentieth of the people were completely unharmed.
In coastal areas, the phrase "less than one in a hundred survived" wouldn't be an exaggeration. The hundred-meter-high tsunami had already swallowed everything; even lifeboats couldn't save them. This turned the American coastline into ruins.
The bodies littered the United States, and the ensuing problems exploded. Earthquake-induced burst pipes, damaged reservoirs, and soil contamination made clean drinking water extremely scarce. Water supply systems in many cities collapsed, forcing residents to rely on limited bottled water or rainwater harvesting to survive.
The long-term lack of clean water sources has not only caused panic and dissatisfaction among residents, but has also led to outbreaks of various waterborne diseases, such as cholera and dysentery, which seriously threaten people's lives.
In some areas, even drinking water is unavailable. Even knowing the water source is problematic, he can only drink slightly filtered sewage.
Many people have contracted various diseases as a result, especially in areas affected by nuclear contamination, where the problem is even more severe.
Natural disasters have devastated American agriculture. Earthquake-induced ground tremors disrupted irrigation systems, while tsunamis brought saltwater intrusion, causing vast tracts of farmland to become saline and unsuitable for crop cultivation. Simultaneously, volcanic ash cover hindered photosynthesis, leading to widespread crop yield reductions and even total crop failure. This not only caused food shortages but also disrupted the ecological balance, threatening the survival of many animals that depend on plants.
Medical facilities were also severely damaged in the earthquake, with hospitals collapsing, medical equipment broken, and medicines in short supply, making rescue efforts difficult to sustain. Many injured people could not receive timely treatment, leading to frequent wound infections and complications, and a significant increase in the mortality rate. At the same time, due to the lack of sufficient medical resources, mental health problems began to emerge, with many people falling into deep despair and anxiety due to the loss of loved ones and homes.
More serious problems gradually emerged. The paralysis of agriculture and industry led to a sharp decline in productivity, commodity shortages, soaring prices, and economic stagnation or even regression. Meanwhile, post-disaster reconstruction required massive financial investment, but the US government was already paralyzed. Many prominent US officials were either dead or had already fled.
This exacerbates the despair of ordinary people. Driven by the pressures of survival and feelings of hopelessness, social instability increases, with frequent crimes such as robbery and theft. Simultaneously, conflicts of interest between different groups may intensify, leading to social division and unrest.
Everyone thought of the United Nations. The UN where the US government can do whatever it wants. Faced with a domestic crisis, the US is forced to seek international aid to cope with the disaster. However, this could also trigger suspicion and concern from other countries, especially against the backdrop of resource competition and geopolitical sensitivities, potentially making international relations more tense and complex.
Countries hostile to the United States have offered numerous conditions, with some even going so far as to resort to direct military intervention, just as the US has done in the past by stationing troops in other countries.
Those places where the situation wasn't too serious were immediately occupied by other countries. The worst offender was Japan, which, after learning about the situation in the United States, immediately expelled the American troops stationed there.
Deprived of homeland support, American troops could only helplessly allow themselves to be driven out by the Japanese. The main reason for their lack of resistance was that they still wanted to rebuild America. This was also the only remaining armed force in the United States.
Upon returning to the United States, this unit began preparing to rebuild their homeland. But only after returning home did they realize the severity of the problems. The damage caused by natural disasters to the environment is long-term, resulting in soil pollution, water pollution, and ecological imbalance. These issues may continue to impact the United States' ecological environment and biodiversity for years to come, even decades.
After experiencing this unprecedented disaster, the United States not only faces direct survival challenges, but also needs to address issues on multiple levels, including the economy, society, and environment.
No one expected that in less than a week, the United States would go from a world superpower to a second-rate power. If its troops stationed in Japan and other countries hadn't suffered no losses, it might not even have been considered a second-rate power.
This has shown all countries the devastating power of natural disasters, and many countries have begun to take relevant preventative measures.
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