美国国家公共电台 NPR--Oregon's triple-digit temps are especially hard on those living on the streets

Oregon's triple-digit temps are especially hard on those living on the streets

Transcript¹

As Oregon endures a heat wave, Gov. Kate Brown has declared an emergency in 25 of the state's counties. But getting relief to the people who need it most can be a challenge.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

It's hot in the Pacific Northwest, so hot that Oregon's governor declared a state of emergency across much of her state this week. In Portland, temperatures are expected to hover² around 100 degrees through Saturday. That's a temperature the city is just not prepared for. And it's left those living on the streets looking for any way to cool down. OPB's Rebecca Ellis reports.

JULIE SHOWERS: Here you go. Would you like a water?

REBECCA ELLIS, BYLINE³: Standing⁴ outside Blanchet House, where she works, Julie Showers is catching⁵ people as they leave.

SHOWERS: Would you like a popsicle?

ELLIS: Throughout the year, unhoused people can come to this nonprofit in downtown Portland to get a warm meal. Today, they're getting cold things as well, icies (ph), water, popsicles. Thirteen-year-old Avery Humphries (ph) and his brother take blue raspberry. Their dad, Jesse Bo (ph), chooses a red one.

JESSE BO: I feel like I'm sweating so much that it's like I'm losing weight.

ELLIS: This heat wave has descended⁶ upon the Humphries family at a time when they found themselves in unfortunate circumstances. They recently lost their housing. And for the past few weeks, the family of three has been camping in a tent a few blocks away. The tent is hot. And the whole family is planning to head to a cooling center tonight. Braden (ph) is 11.

BRADEN: It's a spot that we can chill at.

BO: And it's got air conditioning in it?

BRADEN: I don't know.

BO: I don't know.

ELLIS: It does have air conditioning. The county is overseeing four overnight cooling shelters for anyone who needs to get out of the heat. But not everyone living outside is sold on the cooling centers. Jerome Byrdon (ph) is also on his way out the door.

JEROME BYRDON: I don't like to be around a lot of people, so that would hold me up. You know what I mean?

ELLIS: Not wanting to be around people is a common issue. County emergency manager Jenny Carver says they've tried to reduce barriers by allowing pets at the cooling centers and providing guests a place to store their belongings⁷. Carver started in her position last June. It was the very same week the region saw record-shattering temperatures that killed dozens.

SHOWERS: I saw someone come in visibly sort of, like, stressed. And he collapsed⁸.

ELLIS: Rory Lidster (ph) knows exactly what it feels like to be stressed from the heat. He's been camping under a small canopy⁹ of cherry trees in North Portland with his partner. Today he moved to one of the cooling centers nearby.

RORY LIDSTER: And it gets to a point where you feel like you're going to pass out. And when - I know when I get to, like, starting to feel like that, a little lightheaded, dizzy, I know it's time I got to stop.

ELLIS: He's planning to stay in the cooling center. He says that with temperatures like this, being outside just isn't worth the risk. For NPR News, I'm Rebecca Ellis in Portland, Ore.

(SOUNDBITE OF FREDDIE JOACHIM'S "MULLED WINE")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 hover   

vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫

参考例句：

• You don't hover round the table.你不要围着桌子走来走去。
• A plane is hover on our house.有一架飞机在我们的房子上盘旋。

3 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

6 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

7 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

8 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

9 canopy   

n.天篷，遮篷

参考例句：

• The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。
• They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。