Soon after the hurricane struck, the radios used by police, fire fighters and Nagin drained their batteries. Then their satellite phones would not recharge, according to the Wall Street Journal.
As the thud of mortar rounds shook the adjacent street and the rattle of machine guns came from nearby, the rebel fighters advanced under sniper fire from the surrounding rooftops.
迫击炮撼动了周边的街道，机枪在附近嗒嗒作响，反抗军冒着楼顶狙击手的火力向前行进。
3
There were so many people in the street watching the fire that fire fighters could not get close to the building.