Airbnb is trying to find temporary homes for those displaced by Hurricane Irma.The online home-sharing community has activated its Disaster Response Program to aid Floridians who are evacuating their homes to flee the impending powerful storm.The tool connects evacuees as well as volunteers and emergency relief workers with Airbnb hosts who are opening up their homes free of charge.All Airbnb service charges and state and local taxes are also being waived.Airbnb hosts in the following Florida and Georgia communities are eligible to take part in the program, and have been contacted to be alerted:
- Florida: Leon County, Calhoun County, Franklin County, Jackson County, Liberty County, Gadsden County, Gulf County, Wakulla County, Madison County, Jefferson County, Taylor County
- Georgia: Decatur County, Grady County, Thomas County
The program will stay in place until Sept. 28. Hosts can decide how long they are willing to open up their homes during that time period.Hurricane Irma: Which Florida airports are halting flights (list)"We are hopeful that our host community will be able to help make the evacuation process easier for residents and their families,” says Kim Rubey, Airbnb’s global director of social good.Hosts who want to offer their homes for free should go to airbnb.com/disaster and click on “I can offer my space for free.”Evacuees have been directed to go to the same link and click on “I need a place to stay.”Those who don’t have Airbnb accounts can created verified ones to participate in the program.The program was created in 2012 as a response to Hurricane Sandy. It has since been activated 75 times all over the world. Hosts have used it in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in Florida and Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.
post: www.usatoday.com