Lesson-1-Face-to-Face-with-Hurricane-Camille-原文.docx

Lesson1FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamilleJosephRBlank1 JohnKoshak,Jr.,knewthatHurricaneCamillewouldbebad.RadioandtelevisionwarningshadsoundedthroughoutthatSunday,lastAugust17,asCamillelashednorthwestwardacrosstheGulfofMexico.ItwascertaintopummelGulfport,Miss.,wheretheKosherslived.AlongthecoastsofLouisiana,MississippiandAlabama,nearly150,000peoplefledinlandtosafer8round.But,likethousandsofothersinthecoastalCommunitiesJohnwasreluctanttoabandonhishomeunlessthefamilyhiswife,Janis,andtheirsevenchildren,abed3to11wasclearlyendangered.2 Tryingtoreasonoutthebestcourseofaction,hetalkedwithhisfatherandmother;whohadmovedintotheten-roomhousewiththeKoshaksamonthearlierfromCalifornia.HealsoconsultedCharlesHill,alongtimefriend,whohaddrivenfromLasVegasforavisit.3 John,37whosebusinesswasrightthereinhishome(hedesignedanddevelopededucationaltoysandsupplies,andallofMagnaProducts'correspondence,engineeringdrawingsandartworkwerethereonthefirstfloor)wasfamiliarwiththepowerofahurricane.Fouryearsearlier;HurricaneBetsyhaddemolishedundefinedhisformerhomeafewmileswestofGulfport(Koshakhadmovedhisfamilytoamotelforthenight).Butthathousehadstoodonlyafewfeetabovesealevel."We'reelevated2afeet,"hetoldhisfather,"andwe'reagood250yardsfromthesea.Theplacehasbeenheresince1915,andnohurricanehaseverbotheredit.We'IIprobablybeassafehereasanyplaceelse."4 TheelderKoshak,agruffwarmheartedexpertmachinistof67,agreed."Wecanbattendownandrideitout,"hesaid."Ifweseesignsofdanger,wecangetoutbeforedark."5 Themenmethodicallypreparedforthehurricane.Sincewatermainsmightbedamaged,theyfilledbathtubsandpails.Apowerfailurewaslikely,sotheycheckedoutbatteriesfortheportableradioandflashlights,andfuelforthelantern.John'sfathermovedasmallgeneratorintothedownstairshallway,wiredseverallightbulbstoitandpreparedaconnectiontotherefrigerator.6 Rainfellsteadilythatafternoon;graycloudsscuddedinfromtheGulfontherisingwind.Thefamilyhadanearlysupper.Aneighbor,whosehusbandwasinVietnam,askedifsheandhertwochildrencouldsitoutthestormwiththeKoshaks.Anotherneighborcamebyonhiswayin-landwouldtheKoshaksmindtakingcareofhisdog?7 Itgrewdarkbeforeseveno,clock.Windandrainnowwhippedthehouse.Johnsenthisoldestsonanddaughterupstairstobringdownmattressesandpillowsfortheyoungerchildren.Hewantedtokeepthegrouptogetherononefloor."Stayawayfromthewindows,"hewarned,concernedaboutglassflyingfromstorm-shatteredpanes.AsthewindmountedtoaroanthehousebeganIeaking-therainseeminglydrivenrightthroughthewalls.Withmops,towels,potsandbucketstheKoshaksbeganastruggleagainsttherapidlyspreadingwater.At8:30,powerfailed,andPopKoshakturnedonthegenerator.8 Theroarofthehurricanenowwasoverwhelming.Thehouseshook,andtheceilinginthelivingroomwasfallingpiecebypiece.TheFrenchdoorsinanupstairsroomblewinwithanexplosivesound,andthegroupheardgun-likereportsasotherupstairswindowsdisintegrated.Waterroseabovetheirankles.9 Thenthefrontdoorstartedtobreakawayfromitsframe.JohnandCharlieputtheirshouldersagainstit,butablastofwaterhitthehouse,flingingopenthedoorandshovingthemdownthehall.Thegeneratorwasdoused,andthelightswentout.CharlielickedhislipsandshoutedtoJohn."Ithinkwe,reinrealtrouble.Thatwatertastedsalty."Theseahadreachedthehouse,andthewaterwasrisingbytheminute!10 "Everybodyoutthebackdoortotheoars!"Johnyelled."We,IIpassthechildrenalongbetweenus.Countthem!Nine!"11 Thechildrenwentfromadulttoadultlikebucketsinafirebrigade.Butthecarswouldn'tstart;theelectricalsystemshadbeenkilledbywater.ThewindwastooStrongandthewatertoodeeptofleeonfoot."Backtothehouse!"johnyelled,"Countthechildren!Countnine!"12 Astheyscrambledback,johnordered,"Every-bodyonthestairs!"Frightened,breathlessandwet,thegroupsettledonthestairs,whichwereprotectedbytwointeriorwalls.Thechildrenputtheoat,Spooky,andaboxwithherfourkittensonthelanding.Shepeerednervouslyatherlitter.Theneighbor'sdogcurledupandwenttosleep.13 Thewindsoundedliketheroarofatrainpassingafewyardsaway.Thehouseshudderedandshiftedonitsfoundations.Waterincheditswayupthestepsasfirst-flooroutsidewallscollapsed.Noonespoke.Everyoneknewtherewasnoescape;theywouldliveordieinthehouse.14 CharlieHillhadmoreorlesstakenresponsibilityfortheneighborandhertwochildren.Themotherwasonthevergeofpanic.Sheclutchedhisarmandkeptrepeating,"Ican'tswim,Ican'tswim."15 "Youwon'thaveto,"hetoldher;withoutwardcalm."It'sboundtoendsoon."16 GrandmotherKoshakreachedanarmaroundherhusband'sshoulderandputhermouthclosetohisear."Pop,"shesaid,hIloveyou."Heturnedhisheadandanswered,"Iloveyou"-andhisvoicelackeditsusualgruffness.17 Johnwatchedthewaterlapatthesteps,andfeltacrushingguilt.HehadunderestimatedtheferocityofCamille.Hehadassumedthatwhathadneverhappenedcouldnothappen.Heheldhisheadbetweenhishands,andsilentlyprayed:"Getusthroughthismess,willYou?"18 Amomentlater,thehurricane,inonemightyswipe,liftedtheentireroofoffthehouseandskimmedit40feetthroughtheair.Thebottomstepsofthestaircasebrokeapart.Onewallbegancrumblingonthemaroonedgroup.19 Dr.RobertH.Simpson,directoroftheNationalHurricaneCenterinMiami,Fla.,gradedHurricaneCamilleas"thegreatestrecordedstormevertohitapopulatedareaintheWesternHemisphere."initsconcentratedbreadthofsome70milesitshotoutwindsofnearly200andraisedtidesashighas30feet.AlongtheGulfCoastitdevastatedeverythinginitsswath:19,467homesand709smallbusinessesweredemolishedorseverelydamaged.itseizeda600,000-gallonGulfportoiltankanddumpedit3-milesaway.Ittorethreelargecargoshipsfromtheirmooringsandbeachedthem.Telephonepolesand20-inch-thickpinescrackedlikegunsasthewindssnappedthem.20 TothewestofGulfport,thetownofPassChristianwasvirtuallywipedout.SeveralvacationersattheluxuriousRichelieuApartmentsthereheldahurricanepartytowatchthestormfromtheirspectacularvantagepointRichelieuApartmentsweresmashedapartasifbyagiganticfist,and26peopleperished.21 SecondsaftertheroofblewofftheKoshakhouse,johnyelled,"Upthestairsintoourbedroom!Countthekids."Thechildrenhuddledintheslashingrainwithinthecircleofadults.GrandmotherKoshakimplored,"Children,let'ssing!"Thechildrenweretoofrightenedtorespond.Shecarriedonaloneforafewbars;thenhervoicetrailedaway.22 Debrisflewastheliving-roomfireplaceanditschimneycollapsed.Withtwowallsintheirbedroomsanctuarybeginningtodisintegrate,Johnordered,"Intothetelevisionroom!"Thiswastheroomfarthestfromthedirectionofthestorm.23 Foraninstant,Johnputhisarmaroundhiswife.Janisunderstood.Shiveringfromthewindandrainandfear;clutchingtwochildrentoher;shethought,DearLord,givemethestrengthtoendurewhatIhaveto.Shefeltangeragainstthehurricane.Wewon'tletitwin.24 PopKoshakragedsilently,frustratedatnotbeingabletodoanythingtofightCamille.Withoutreason,hedraggedacedarchestandadoublemattressfromabed-roomintotheTVroom.Atthatmoment,thewindtoreoutonewallandextinguishedthelantern.Asecondwallmoved,wavered,CharlieHilltriedtosupportit,butittoppledonhim,injuringhisback.Thehouse,shudderingandrocking,hadmoved25feetfromitsfoundations.Theworldseemedtobebreakingapart.25 "Let'sgetthatmattressup!"Johnshoutedtohisfather."Makeitalean-toagainstthewind.Getthekidsunderit.Wecanpropitupwithourheadsandshoulders!"26ThelargerchildrenSprawledonthefloor,withthesmalleronesinalayerontopofthem,andtheadultsbentoverallnine.Thefloortilted.Theboxcontainingthelitterofkittensslidoffashelfandvanishedinthewind.Spookyflewoffthetopofaslidingbookcaseandalsodisappeared.Thedogcoweredwitheyesclosed.Athirdwallgaveway.Waterlappedacrosstheslantingfloor.Johngrabbedadoorwhichwasstillhingedtooneclosetwall."Ifthefloorgoes,"heyelledathisfather;"let'sgetthekidsonthis."27 Inthatmoment,thewindslightlydiminished,andthewaterstoppedrising.Thenthewaterbeganreceding.ThemainthrustofCamillehadpassed.TheKoshaksandtheirfriendshadsurvived.28 Withthedawn,Gulfportpeoplestartedcomingbacktotheirhomes.Theysawhumanbodiesmorethan130men,womenandchildrendiedalongtheMississippicoast-andpartsofthebeachandhighwaywerestrewnwithdeaddogs,cats,cattle.Stripsofclothingfestoonedthestandingtrees,andblowndownpowerlinesCoiledlikeblackSpaghettiovertheroads.29 Noneofthereturneesmovedquicklyorspokeloudly;theystoodshocked,tryingtoabsorbtheshatteringscenesbeforetheireyes.wWhatdowedot"theyasked."Wheredowego?"30 Bythistime,organizationswithintheareaand,ineffect,theentirepopulationoftheUnitedStateshadcometotheaidofthedevastatedcoast.Beforedawn,theMississippiNationalGuardandcivil-defenseunitsweremovingintohandletraffic,guardproperty,setupcommunicationscenters,helpclearthedebrisandtakethehomelessbytruckandbustorefugeecenters.By10a.m.,theSalvationArmy'scanteentrucksandRedCrossvolunteersandstaffersweregoingwhereverpossibletodistributehotdrinks,food,clothingandbedding.31 Fromhundredsoftownsandcitiesacrossthecountrycameseveralmilliondollarsindonations;householdandmedicalsuppliesstreamedinbyplane,train,truckandcar.Thefederalgovernmentshipped4,400,000poundsoffood,movedinmobilehomes,setupportableclassrooms,openedofficestoprovidelow-interest,long-termbusinessloans.32 Camille,meanwhile,hadrakeditswaynorthwardacrossMississippi,droppingmorethan28inchesofrainintoWestVirginiaandsouthernVirginia,causingrampagingfloods,hugemountainslidesand111additionaldeathsbeforebreakingupovertheAtlanticOcean.33 1.ikemanyotherGulfportfamilies,theKoshaksquicklybeganreorganizingtheirlives,Johndividedhisfamilyinthehomesoftwofriends.Theneighborwithhertwochildrenwenttoarefugeecenter.CharlieHillfoundaroomforrent.ByTuesday,Charlie'sbackhadimproved,andhepitchedinwithSeabeesintheworstvolunteerworkofallsearchingforbodies.Threedaysafterthestorm,hedecidednottoreturntoLasVegas,butto"remaininGulfportandhelprebuildthecommunity."34 Neartheendofthefirstweek,afriendofferedtheKoshakshisapartment,andthefamilywasreunited.Thechildrenappearedtosuffernopsychologicaldamagefromtheirexperience;theywerestillawedbytheincomprehensiblepowerofthehurricane,butenjoyeddescribingwhattheyhadseenandheardonthatfrightfulnight,Janishadjustonedelayedreaction.Afewnightsafterthehurricane,sheawokesuddenlyat2a.m.Shequietlygotupandwentoutside.Lookingupattheskyand,withoutknowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebegantocrysoftly.35 Meanwhile,John,PopandCharliewerepickingthroughthewreckageofthehome.Itcouldhavebeendepressing,butitwasn't:eachsalvageditemrepresentedalittlevictoryoverthewrathofthestorm.Thedogandcatsuddenlyappearedatthescene,aliveandhungry.36 Butthebluesdidoccasionallyafflictalltheadults.Once,inalowmood,Johnsaidtohisparents,"Iwantedyouheresothatwewouldallbetogether;soyoucouldenjoythechildren,andlookwhathappened."37 Hisfather,whohadmadeuphismindtostartaweldingshopwhenlivingwasnormalagain,said,"Let'snotcryaboutwhat'sgone.We'IIjuststartallover.',38 "You'regreat,"Johnsaid."Andthistownhasalotofgreatpeopleinit.It'sgoingtobebetterherethaniteverwasbefore."39 1.ater;GrandmotherKoshakreflected:"Welostpracticallyallourpossessions,butthefamilycamethroughit.WhenIthinkofthat,Irealizewelostnothingimportant."(fromRhetoricandLiteraturebyRJosephCanavan)NOTES1. Josephp.Blank:ThewriterpublishednFacetoFaceWithHurricaneCamHleHintheReader'sDigest,March1970.2. HurricaneCamille:IntheUnitedStateshurricanesarenamedalphabeticallyandgiventhenamesofpeopleHkeHurricaneCamille,HurricaneBetsy,andsoon;whereasinChinaTyphoonsaregivenserialnumbersHkeTyphoonNo.1,TyphoonNo.2andsoon.3. TheSalvationArmy:AProtestantreligiousbodydevotedtotheconversionofandsocialworkamongthepoor,andcharacterizedbyuseofmilitarytitles,uniforms,etc.Itwasfoundedin1878bynGeneraInBoothinLondon;nowWOrIdWideinoperation.4. RedCross:aninternationalorganization(infullInternationalRedCross),foundedin1864WithheadquartersandbranchesinallcountriessignatorytotheGenevaConvention,forthereliefofsufferingintimeofwarordisaster仅供个人用于学习、研究；不得用于商业用途。Forpersonaluseonlyinstudyandresearch;notforcommercialuse.NurfurdenpersonlichenfurStudien,Forschung,zukommerziellenZweckenverwendetwerden.PourI'etudeetIarechercheuniquementadesfinspersonnelles;pasadesfinsCommerciales.oiboKDfleM,oopbeMcoib3y)cflairo6yMHMA,HCeneAoBaH丘MHeAeMl*HblMC11O-11b3OBaTbC51BKOMMePqeCKnXLe151X.以下无正文