Bush Surveys Flood Damage in US Midwest
布什视察爱奥华洪涝灾区　

　 
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.

美国总统布什在中西部地区的爱奥华州视察了洪涝灾区，大雨冲毁了数百万公顷的牧场和农田。

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

美国总统布什前往爱奥华州第二大城市锡达拉皮兹市，在一个协调救援工作的应急指挥中心听取了地方官员和联邦政府官员的报告。

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

布什总统说：“显而易见，在关于我们能立即提供多大程度帮助的问题上，我们愿意提供帮助，然后计划进行灾后恢复。”

Much of Cedar Rapids was submerged by the Cedar River, which crested 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.

锡达拉皮兹市的大部分地区都已经被锡达河淹没，水位最高的时候超过洪水水位7米以上。联邦紧急管理署说，它已发放了超过300万公升的饮用水和20万份即食饭餐。

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

布什总统告诉记者说，美国全国人民都关心在这些地区面临15年来最严重的洪灾的人们。

"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."

他说：“全国各地的人都关心这里的灾民，并为你们祈祷。对你们来说，这是一个艰难的时刻。但是，好消息是，爱奥华州的人民有坚强的信念，你们将会再次拥有更美好的生活。”

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 affected by the flood.

布什总统说，联邦和地方官员不仅把救灾重点放在锡达拉皮兹这样的人口中心，他们也会兼顾受洪灾的那些小城镇。

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.

布什从空中视察了洪水泛滥的情况，他还视察了爱奥华大学城。这是布什总统首次视察中西部地区洪水灾区，洪水迫使6个州的至少3万5千人从家中撤离。

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.

美国中西部降暴雨导致河水漫出河岸和堤防的时候，布什正在欧洲访问。他定期得到救灾努力的报告，并且表示要拿出40亿美元的联邦紧急救济基金来帮助支付洪水后的清理费用。

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.

除了财产损失之外，洪水还影响了美国一部分最肥沃的耕地，并预计对已经不断增加的粮食价格有所影响，尤其是像玉米这样的农作物。

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 nominee, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, helped fill sandbags several days ago in his home state.

有可能获得两党总统候选人提名的奥巴马和麦凯恩都视察了灾区。可能成为共和党候选人的亚利桑那州参议员麦凯恩没有和总统一起而是单独视察了爱奥华州。而可能成为民主党候选人的 伊利诺伊州参议员奥巴马则在几天前就在他家乡所在的州帮助垒沙袋。