Home sharing platform Airbnb has rolled out its disaster response program for Hurricane Matthew evacuees, offering free digs for some householders fleeing the Category 4 storm.
Its disaster response tool has been activated in parts of Florida and South Carolina where orders to evacuate up to two million people are in force.
As of early Friday there were roughly two dozen Airbnb properties throughout Central Florida offering free stays as the company urged more hosts to ‘open your doors to those in need.’
Airbnb has been emailing local hosts with details how to help and provide shelter for affected residents.
Hosts are still covered by Airbnb’s Host Guarantee, and Airbnb fees are waived.
The disaster response tool last kicked in during the Louisiana floods
The program was established in 2013 following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy the previous year.
It is led by Kellie Bentz, Airbnb’s new head of global disaster relief, who established a disaster recovery project in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
"At Airbnb we have a real opportunity to use our disaster response program to help communities in a time of need. We look forward to collaborating more with agencies like FEMA around the world," Bentz said.
