this disaster drama create for tv be base on a novel by a popular new york tv anchorman turn author chuck scarborough . a massive earthquake shake the big apple and the city be all but hold hostage by the devastation . new york city mayor bruce lincoln ( charles s. dutton ) and his political foe fire chief thomas ahearn ( tom skerritt ) come to grip put their difference aside to work together dig the city out of the ruble . there seem to be more than enough sub plot stretch this hallmark presentation to near three hour . there be some good special effect and but nothing we haven not see before . this earthquake flick be really no great shake . and not unlike other disaster movie there be vast and varied talent feature in the cast represent sharon lawrence and jennifer garner and fred weller and lisa nicole carson and rachel ticotin and cicely tyson .