2007年VOA标准英语-Rebuilding, Politics Dominate New Orleans Two Y

By Paul Sisco
Washington, D.C.
28 August 2007
 

Two years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf¹ Coast of the United States, flooding 80 percent of New Orleans. The rebuilding process has been slow and painful for many, and more than 160,000 displaced residents have not returned. VOA's Paul Sisco has more.

Many areas of New Orleans were underwater

The anniversary this Wednesday is attracting a lot of attention to New Orleans, the city most devastated² by Hurricane Katrina.  Presidential hopefuls are visiting some of the hardest hit areas.  Mark Halperin of Time magazine explains why. "For African-Americans, not just on the Gulf Coast but around the country, responding to Katrina, showing that you understand the issue, is a big point in the Democratic (Party) nomination³ fight."

The Bush administration was widely criticized for not responding more quickly to the disaster. But this Wednesday, President Bush will make his 13th visit to New Orleans since the storm.

Two breeches in the Florida Street levee, looking toward the Mississippi River, are shown Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina moved through the area.

The federal government has committed billions of dollars for recovery efforts, including $7 billion to repair the city's flood protection system.  A bill in Congress, not yet approved, would provide another $1.9 billion to fortify⁴ New Orleans area levees.

"We will do what it takes,” said the president shortly after the city was devastated. “We will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives."

Three Democratic Party presidential candidates -- Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards -- are in New Orleans this week, promising⁵ to speed up reconstruction⁶ efforts.

"People have made extraordinary progress and are coming back home and making things work,” said Senator Obama to a local group, “but we have a lot of folks who are under-resourced and not getting the help that they need to make sure they are able to come home. So as a consequence, you have a patchwork⁷ of success and failure throughout the city."

Katrina killed an estimated 1800 people across the Gulf Coast, and forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.

Aloyd Edinburg's home was destroyed, but he stayed. His attitude is similar to many. "I don't know whatever is in the plans for me is going to happen. So I just go on and start rebuilding and hope that I'll get in ‘cause I plan to get out of this one feet first."

The images of flooded areas, and displaced citizens are powerful reminders⁸ of the hardships nature can impose. So why come back?

"Because this is home,” says New Orleans resident Marilyn Joseph. “There is no place like home."

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• 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。

3 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

4 fortify   

v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化

参考例句：

• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。
• This treaty forbade the United States to fortify the canal.此条约禁止美国对运河设防。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

7 patchwork   

n.混杂物；拼缝物

参考例句：

• That proposal is nothing else other than a patchwork.那个建议只是一个大杂烩而已。
• She patched new cloth to the old coat,so It'seemed mere patchwork. 她把新布初到那件旧上衣上，所以那件衣服看上去就象拼凑起来的东西。

8 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。