VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Surveys Flood Damage in US Midwest

By Scott Stearns
White House
19 June 2008

U.S. President George Bush is in the Midwest state of Iowa surveying flood damage from heavy rains that have washed out millions of hectares of grazing and farmlands. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.
　

President Bush walks by a sandbagged levee during a tour of Midwest flood damage above Iowa City, Iowa, 19 June 2008

President Bush went to Iowa's second-largest city of Cedar¹ Rapids for a briefing from local and federal officials at an emergency command center where relief efforts are being coordinated².

"Obviously to the extent that we can help immediately, we want to help and then plan for recovery," he said.

Much of Cedar Rapids was submerged by the Cedar River, which crested³ nearly seven meters above flood levels. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has distributed more than three million liters of drinking water and 200,000 ready-to-eat meals.

President Bush told reporters that Americans across the nation are concerned about those facing the region's worst flooding in 15 years.

"Our hearts and prayers from around the nation go out to people here," he added. "It is a tough time for you. The good news is the people of Iowa are tough-minded people. You will come back better."

President Bush said federal and local officials will not only focus on population centers like Cedar Rapids, but will also reach out to smaller towns affected⁴ by the flood.

Mr. Bush had an aerial tour of the floodwater and also visited the college town of Iowa City. It is the president's first tour of the Midwest since flooding forced at least 35,000 people from their homes in six states.

The president was in Europe when heavy rains began forcing rivers over their banks and levees. He has received regular briefings on the recovery effort and says $4 billion in a federal emergency relief fund should be enough to help pay for the clean up.

In addition to property damage, the floods have affected some of the nation's most fertile cropland, and are expected to have an impact on already rising food prices, especially for crops like corn.

Both of the major parties' likely presidential candidates have also visited the flood zone. Presumptive Republican candidate Arizona Senator John McCain toured Iowa separately from the president. The likely Democratic nominee⁵, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, helped fill sandbags several days ago in his home state.

1 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

2 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• 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

3 crested   

adj.有顶饰的，有纹章的，有冠毛的v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的过去式和过去分词 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点

参考例句：

• a great crested grebe 凤头䴙䴘
• The stately mansion crested the hill. 庄严的大厦位于山顶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。