ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — The Plaza Beach Resorts in St. Pete Beach has been exclusively hosting storm survivors since October and will continue to do so through the lucrative spring break season, according to owner Rob Czyszczon. 

“Every person at our hotel is a person that was affected by the hurricanes,” he said. “We’re just doing the right thing for the community and housing the people that are really in need.”

Czyszczon said he could be making a lot more money hosting tourists, but he wants to help his battered community rebuild from last year’s back-to-back hurricanes.

What You Need To Know

  • The Plaza Beach Hotel has been hosting storm survivors since last October

  • Owner Rob Czyszczon said he'll continue hosting storm survivors through spring break

  • Czyszczon said he could make more money hosting spring breakers but he wants to help the community

  • Plaza Beach Resorts gets paid directy from FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, which expires in April 

“We’re getting a little bit of money from FEMA, not nearly what I would be getting from our spring break rate,” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do. So we’re housing all of our neighbors.”  

Andrea Simhony, 57, said she moved into the Plaza Beach Hotel in late January, after enrolling in FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program which pays the hotel directly.

“I felt like I was treated really bad because I was a FEMA guest with the other hotels,” she said. “So I came here, and it’s like a family. They take care of you. They’re so nice.”

Simhony’s first floor condo in St. Pete Beach was flooded by Hurricane Helene last September. Simhony said even though her condo is still under construction, she may be forced to move back in when her assistance runs out on March 24. She could not get an extension from FEMA.

“I’ve begged them,” she said. “I just need a few weeks.”

Lawrence Blackbourn, 62, said he moved into the hotel on Jan. 15 and enjoys that it’s within walking distance of his Belle Vista neighborhood home which also flooded during Helene.

“This has been a godsend,” he said. “Being able to just walk over and deal with the contractors.”

Blackbourn said his rebuilding process was delayed as he waited for a non-substantial damage determination from the city which arrived on Feb. 6 and estimated his home was 36 percent damaged. His FEMA assistance runs out on Thursday and he’s not sure where he’ll live.

“I have to leave here and obviously the prices during spring break. I can’t afford anything,” he said. “It’s just frustrating. If they would just extend me.”

The Transitional Sheltering Assistance program offers a short-term form of sheltering assistance for eligible, displaced survivors under a major disaster declaration for up to 180 days from the date of the disaster. Hurricane Milton hit Siesta Key on Oct. 9, which means the six months of FEMA sheltering assistance will expire next month.

Czyszczon said he’s concerned about where his guests will land and hopes it can somehow be extended.

“So April 10, every single person is going to be homeless,” he said. “The problem is a lot of people only need another month or two. April 10 is just around the corner… and they have nowhere to go.”   

Simhony said she and the other guests have been grateful to Czyszczon for keeping his three hotels open only for storm survivors.

“He really is out to help people. He’s really out to help put a roof over our head,” she said. “He’s actually holding all of his hotel down for us to put a roof over our heads.”