Read the following excerpt from "The City Without Us" by Alan Weisman:

In an abandoned city, there would be no one like Paul Schuber and Peter Briffa to race from station to flooded station whenever more than two inches of rain falls—as happens lately with disturbing frequency—sometimes snaking hoses up stairways to pump to a sewer down the street, sometimes navigating these tunnels in inflatable boats. With no people, there would also be no power. The pumps will go off, and stay off. "When this pump facility shuts down," says Schuber, "in half an hour water reaches a level where trains can't pass anymore." Briffa removes his safety goggles and rubs his eyes. "A flood in one zone would push water into the others. Within 36 hours, the whole thing could fill."


What claim does Weisman make in "The City Without Us"? How does the text structure of this excerpt help support Weisman's claim? Be sure to refer to examples from the text to support your analysis.