The legislature had enacted laws enabling debtors to discharge their obligations more easily. The courts put an end to such practices by stipulating that no state could enact such laws. 

Every wall was smashed to rubble. The only thing left of those houses was the land and the rocks from the rubble 

My heart broke because the owners had no insurance 

The town looked deserted. The streets were so dark and empty. The only thing we could hear was the wind blowing 

We worked from dusk to dawn. We never had so many contracts been written in such a short time