VOA常速英语2007-Damage from California Wildfires Could Top $1 Bi
时间：2019-01-31 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA常速英语（十月）
Los Angeles
24 October 2007
President Bush has promised federal aid for Californians whose homes have been destroyed by at least 16 wildfires raging in the southern part of the state. The blazes have scorched 1 165,000 hectares. In San Diego, where 1,200 homes were destroyed, local officials say losses could total $1 billion. Mike O'Sullivan has more from Los Angeles.
With at least half a million people forced from their homes, President Bush signed a major disaster declaration, allowing federal officials to make grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and providing low-cost loans to property owners whose losses are not covered by insurance.
State and local firefighters are already getting aid from the federal government, including fire crews, helicopters, and air tankers 2 that carry water and fire retardant chemicals. The Department of Defense 3 has supplied six C-130 aircraft equipped with firefighting systems, and National Guard troops are helping 4 with evacuation and crowd control.
President Bush plans to visit the fire-ravaged parts of the state Thursday, and says he is making sure that federal efforts are coordinated 5. He also told fire victims that people across the country care deeply about them.
"We are concerned about their safety. We are concerned about their property. And we offer our prayers and hopes that all will turn out fine in the end. In the meantime, they can rest assured that the federal government will do everything we can to help put out these fires," he said.
Many of the hundreds of thousands of people forced from their homes have taken refuge in schools and community centers, in San Diego's Qualcomm sports stadium and at the Del Mar 6 race track outside the city
Federal authorities were criticized for their response to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated 7 New Orleans in 2005. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who toured the fire-stricken areas Tuesday, said lessons from Katrina are being applied 8 to the fires.
As firefighters battle flames on the ground, air tankers and helicopters are dropping water and chemicals where the winds are low enough to permit it.
But airborne efforts have been hampered 9 by high, gusty 10 desert winds called Santa Anas. Forecasters expect the winds to diminish by Thursday, and offshore 11 breezes, expected later in the week, should cool down temperatures, helping firefighters to make progress.
- I scorched my dress when I was ironing it. 我把自己的连衣裙熨焦了。
- The hot iron scorched the tablecloth. 热熨斗把桌布烫焦了。
- They should stop offloading waste from oil tankers into the sea. 他们应当停止从油轮上往海里倾倒废弃物。
- The harbour admits large tankers and freighters. 这个港口容得下巨型油船和货轮。
- The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
- The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
- The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
- The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
- It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
- Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。
- The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
- His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。
- She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
- This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
- The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
- So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。
- Weather forecasts predict more hot weather,gusty winds and lightning strikes.天气预报预测高温、大风和雷电天气将继续。
- Why was Candlestick Park so windy and gusty? 埃德尔斯蒂克公园里为什么会有那么多的强劲阵风？