NPR

When Hurricanes Churn, A Little Hotel Becomes Something More

During a storm evacuation, residents of Fort Myers, Fla., have to figure out where to go. Except for 91-year-old Dorothea Brown. She knows exactly where she'll be.
Flor Garcia talks to a guest at the Comfort Inn in Ft Myers, Fla. The hotel has become a second home for local residents who find themselves evacuating there during hurricanes.

It's hot and dim inside this Comfort Inn just off the interstate in Fort Myers, Fla. The power has been off for two days, ever since the heart of Hurricane Irma passed right over the city.

But Dorothea Brown seems right at ease as she flips through a newspaper in the lobby.

In fact, she says the hotel

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
On 'Here In The Pitch,' Jessica Pratt's Pop Seduces Listeners Into A Los Angeles Noir
The singer-songwriter's fourth album is her best yet, with crisp, commanding songwriting, shades of '60s baroque pop and melodies that seem to have existed forever.
NPR3 min read
Houston Area Braces For Flooding To Worsen Following Storms
A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night, bringing another 1 to 3 inches of water to the soaked region.
NPR5 min readInternational Relations
Campus Protests Over The War In Gaza Have Gone International
Students in the U.K., France and Mexico have sought to erect what many of them call "solidarity encampments," prompting a variety of responses from university authorities and local law enforcement.

Related Books & Audiobooks