25. Earthquake Precautions
地震防范措施
Bam! The bathroom door slamming against the wall woke me out of a sound sleep.
砰！浴室门重重关上的声响惊醒了熟睡中的我。
Groggily wending my way in the dark to the bathroom, I secured the door latch to make sure I would have no further interruptions of much-needed sleep.
我摸黑一路摇摇晃晃地走到浴室将门栓闩好，免得再次打断我宝贵的睡眠，
I then lumbered back into bed and started to drift off.
然后又蹒跚地回到被窝进入梦乡。
Not for long. My body, the bed and the whole bedroom began shaking.
不一会儿，我的身体、床和整个卧室开始摇晃。
After a few confused and frightening seconds, I realized "Earthquake!" "Big one," I added,
在搞不清状况下害怕了几秒钟后，才了解到是“地震”。“而且是个大地震！”我接着又道，
noting that the neighborhood dogs had joined in the weird sounds the hills around my house were making.
注意到附近的狗狂吠着加入房子四周山丘所发出的怪声。
Within moments I was out of bed and on my feet, contemplating leaving the house.
我很快地下床站起来，考虑要不要往屋外移动。
"I'll wait," I comforted myself. "Even these big ones pass in a few seconds."
“等一下吧！”我安慰自己。“就算大地震也不过几秒钟就结束了。”
This one wouldn't. It kept coming;
但这次不一样。它不停地摇晃；
everything was shaking and trembling, rattling.
每样东西都在摇动而且震得嘎嘎作响。
I heard a pane of glass crash onto the floor.
我听见一片玻璃掉到地板上摔碎的声音。
The walls of the house and the things attached to them seemed to heave, not just shudder.
房子的墙壁及附在墙上的东西似乎不只是颤动，而是上下猛烈晃动。
I then noticed that the street lights had failed and my heart was pounding harder than when I used to lift weights.
然后我注意到路灯都已熄灭，而我的心跳得比我过去举重时还剧烈。
I acknowledged my fear.
我承认自己很害怕。
Realizing that there was no time to flee the house, I simply waited and waited.
我了解到已经来不及逃到室外，便乖乖地等着。
The nearly one-minute long temblor finally subsided, and my reasoning came back to me.
将近一分钟的地震终于平息，我的理智也逐渐恢复。
All was well, or well enough.
一切平安，或者说还好吧。
I walked unsteadily to another room and looked outside.
我步履不稳地走到另一个房间往外一瞧。
A neighbor with a flashlight was checking on his and others' homes for damage.
一位邻居拿着手电筒正在检查他家及邻舍有否损坏。
I knew it had been a major quake, though not centered where I lived.
虽然我住的地方并非震中，但我知道这是个大地震。
The next day I learned that a 7.6 Richter-scale earthquake had devastated the lovely rural communities of central Taiwan.
第二天我得知台湾中部许多偏远而可爱的乡间都遭到里氏七点六级大地震的蹂躏。
For the next few weeks, everyone's life was centered around the quake due to the constant media coverage and electricity rationing.
接下来的几个礼拜，因为媒体报道及限电措施，每个人的生活重心都围绕在地震这件事上。
Taiwan is but one of many places situated along the "Ring of Fire" encircling nearly half the globe around the Pacific Ocean.
台湾是诸多太平洋边缘环绕近半个地球的“火环”地区之一。
Constant volcanic and earthquake action occurs here, sometimes with cataclysmic results.
这地区频繁的火山活动及地震时而造成惨重的后果。
In the 20th century alone, major earthquakes have taken more than one million lives.
光是在廿世纪就有一百多万人在大地震中丧命；
Many more have been injured and made homeless.
有更多人因地震受伤或无家可归；
The economic, social, and personal costs are immeasurable.
对经济、社会及个人更造成难以估计的损失。
Over the past quarter century, many countries in earthquake-prone areas have begun to educate their citizens on how to take appropriate precautions for earthquakes.
过去二十五年来许多位于地震频繁地区的国家已开始教育其人民如何采取适当的防震措施。
The following list has been compiled from experience.
以下是从经验中得出来的防震措施。
Before the earthquake:
地震前：
Prepare an "earthquake kit" near everyone's bed;
在每人床边准备一个“地震包”，
these kits should include drinking water, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and dry food.
这个包内有饮水、备有新电池的手电筒及干粮。
Place an extra pillow, blanket, or quilt near the bed to be placed over the head during the earthquake and for warmth if trapped afterwards.
在床边额外准备一只枕头、毛毯或棉被；地震发生时可用来保护头部，震后若遭困亦可用来保暖
During the earthquake:
地震时：
If possible, get out of the building you are inside of and into a clear area.
若可能，立即离开室内到空旷处。
If escape from a building is impossible, get away from windows and doors;
来不及逃离建筑物时，应远离门窗；
try to find shelter under structural beams or under any heavy piece of furniture, like a large table or bed.
并在主梁或较重的家具下寻找掩护（例如大型桌子或床）。
After the major earthquake (remember that aftershocks will occur):
主震过后（别忘了余震）：
When shaking ends or subsides, turn off gas lines.
地震停止或平息后，关闭煤气管道。
Leave the building (never use elevators) quickly but not in a panic.
尽速镇静地离开建筑物（不可搭乘电梯）。
If uninjured, be ready to assist rescue workers with information or labor.
若未受伤，随时准备协助救难人员提供信息或出力援救。
When a Big One happens, there is little anyone can do.
当特大地震发生时，任何人都无能为力，
The above contingency preparations, however, could make the difference between life and death.
但上述防范措施却能决定一个人的生与死。