ESTERO, Fla.—Sheryl Estes lay in a foldable lounge chair, wrapped in blankets and surrounded by a sea of mattresses, storm refugees and their dogs. Her husband, Rick, squeezed in beside her, between an animal crate and a trash can.
Estes was among thousands of Florida evacuees who streamed into Germain Arena, a sports and concert venue in the state’s southwest corner, seeking shelter from Hurricane Irma. They included a large contingent of elderly and medically frail residents of one of the world’s premier retirement destinations.
