Nearly six months after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Tampa Bay, many residents remain in temporary hotel accommodations, waiting for their homes to be repaired.

Among them is Susan Brancato and her husband, who have been living in a hotel since their St. Petersburg condo was severely flooded. Last week, they received a call from FEMA informing them that their stay would not be extended beyond April 9.

Brancato and her husband had lived in their condo for nearly a decade before experiencing the impact of Helene. The storm left several feet of floodwater inside their first-floor unit, forcing the removal of drywall and flooring. Now, their home remains gutted, with little left salvageable.

“I can see straight through to my neighbor’s unit,” Brancato told WTVT. “And you can still smell the damage.”

Finding a new home has been a struggle. Her husband, who is bedridden and recovering from a stroke, requires extensive daily care and wheelchair accessibility.

“He’s in a hospital bed that weighs 500 pounds,” she explained. “Then there are the lifts, the wheelchairs—where am I supposed to go after April 9? I need a first-floor unit, but in all of Pinellas County, there’s nothing available.”

Brancato says she’s not alone in this situation—many others are also searching for housing, but demand far exceeds supply.

FEMA provided the couple with $3,200 for displacement costs in addition to the hotel voucher, but Brancato says that barely covers storage fees and other expenses. Meanwhile, they are still paying condo fees and utility bills for a home they cannot live in.

On Friday, the unexpected call from FEMA left her scrambling for answers.

“They said, ‘We’re notifying everyone that as of April 9, hotel stays will not be extended,’” she told WTVT.

While contractors are being secured to repair her condo complex, Brancato estimates it could be another year before they can return home.

“I really don’t know where we’re going to go,” she said. “Where do people go? The sidewalk? A tent?”

In response to concerns, a FEMA spokesperson provided a statement to Fox 13 regarding its Temporary Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program:

“FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program is a temporary solution designed to help eligible disaster survivors transition from emergency sheltering to more permanent housing. Survivors who qualify can stay in TSA-approved hotels for a limited time.

Currently, the TSA program is scheduled to end on April 10, unless an extension is approved. FEMA reassesses each survivor’s status every two weeks using state-approved eligibility criteria. Those who no longer qualify are notified at least seven days in advance via automated phone call, email, or text.

Regarding additional support, some survivors may receive rental assistance or housing stipends—such as the $3,200 mentioned—to help secure temporary accommodations while their permanent residences undergo repairs. FEMA acknowledges the challenges of securing housing, particularly in areas with limited availability, and continues to work with local and state partners to identify additional resources.”

For Brancato and many others, however, those solutions remain out of reach. With just weeks left before the program ends, they are left with an uncertain future and few options.

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(Image credit: FEMA Photo Library)

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