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

NPR3 min read
Baltimore's Key Bridge Was Built In The '70s, But Has A Deep And Patriotic History
The bridge was built mere yards from where Francis Scott Key watched the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814, inspiring him to write the song that would become the U.S. national anthem.
NPR1 min read
6 Presumed Dead In Baltimore Bridge Collapse; Former RNC Chair Dropped From NBC
Recovery efforts are underway for six people presumed dead in the Baltimore bridge collapse. NBC has dropped a former RNC chair as a contributor after backlash from the public and its network stars.
NPR12 min read
Composer Anna Clyne, A Radical Melodist With A Painter's Eye
One of the most performed living composers unpacks the power of melody in her music, her unconventional path to success and how visual art guides her process.

Related Books & Audiobooks