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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Michael Sainato in Gainesville, Florida

Elderly bear brunt of Hurricane Ian as Sunshine state retirement turns sour

Ced Franklin is assisted by sheriff officers before being evacuated after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Matlacha, Florida.
Ced Franklin is assisted by sheriff officers before being evacuated after Hurricane Ian caused widespread destruction in Matlacha, Florida. Photograph: Marco Bello/Reuters

Joy McCormack had just retired and moved to a mobile park in Fort Myers near the Sanibel Island causeway before Hurricane Ian hit Florida last week. Her entire community was wiped out and her mobile home is still flooded.

She had managed to evacuate before Ian arrived with just her car and a few belongings, spending the night in a two-story office building inland. “You don’t expect it to be anything, because we’ve never been hit that hard,” said McCormack.

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