The simile "as useful as a broken wagon wheel" vividly illustrates the ineffectiveness and futility of the news that eventually reaches the town after the storm. This comparison helps craft the historical setting by evoking imagery relevant to a time when transportation and communication were heavily reliant on traditional means such as wagons. It suggests a slower pace of life and a reliance on hands-on methods for news dissemination.
The storm's ability to delay news for weeks emphasizes the isolation that communities faced in earlier times, when natural events could significantly disrupt the flow of information. Furthermore, the broken wagon wheel symbolizes the breakdown of the systems that connect people—both literally and metaphorically—highlighting the challenges of a historical setting where news was crucial for survival, trade, and social cohesion. Overall, this simile anchors the readers in a past era characterized by vulnerability to environmental factors and the limitations of communication, enhancing the sense of urgency and gravity surrounding the situation the town faces.