when someone uses their hand to put things aside and search for something

[alpacinou]

I want to describe a situation when someone uses their hand to put things aside and search for something.

What verb can I use here?

After the earthquake had stopped, she ran back inside the house, ........ the debris, looking for her mom.

I need a verb to fill in the blank that would mean putting aside with your hand and searching for something.

 

[Tarheel]

moving

It's a bit odd to use "with your hand" there. Why? It's a natural assumption that a person moves things with their hands. It would only be worth mentioning if she used some other body part for that.

 

[alpacinou]

Can't I use "rummage through" or "fumble through" in that sentence?

 

[5jj]

"Scrabbled though" would be more appropriate.

 

[alpacinou]

"Scrabbled though" would be more appropriate.

Is this okay?

After the earthquake had stopped, she ran back inside the house, desperately scrabbling though the debris, looking for her mom.

 

[Tarheel]

Did the ceiling cave in on her while she was inside?

 

[5jj]

Is this okay?

After the earthquake had stopped, she ran back inside the house, desperately scrabbling though the debris, looking for her mom.

Yes.

 

[Tarheel]

Is this okay?

After the earthquake had stopped, she ran back inside the house, desperately scrabbling though the debris, looking for her mom.

At your level you do not, I think, need to ask that question. Instead, I would ask what's going to help me tell the story better. (See below.)

The ground stopped rumbling. Things quieted down. But her mom was still inside the damaged building. In a panic, she rushed inside. She searched through the debris, hoping to find her alive.

You can probably do it better.

 

[Tarheel]

@alpacinou I have a better idea. (See below.)

The first thing you or I or anybody would do is call out to her. We would do that before picking through the rubble. So she rushes into the building yelling "Mom! Mom! Mom!" Then she hears her mother's voice behind her. She runs to her and grabs her and gives her a big hug.

Her mom wasn't in the building after all, so she didn't have to pick through the rubble.