How Airbnb is aiding Hurricane Helene victims

Hurricane Helene — which ran a 600-mile long path of destruction through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas — has decimated communities and forced large portions of the American southeast out of their homes. With search and rescue efforts still underway, other organizations, like Airbnb are stepping in to assist the displaced.

Area residents can now apply for housing hosted by Airbnb.org, the company’s nonprofit arm behind its humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. Temporary free or discounted stays are coordinated through local nonprofit and relief partners, not the Airbnb site, which identify and coordinate residents who require assistance. Hundreds of residents have already been placed in accommodations, the organization says.

There’s certainly need, even with the federal government’s response. “In the Carolinas, entire communities are submerged by floodwaters and cut off from aid with people waiting to be rescued with no access to food, power or fuel. In Georgia and Tennessee, damage from downed trees and flooding have left neighborhoods unrecognizable. In Florida, cars are buried in sand and homes have been gutted by the massive storm surge,” according to the Red Cross.

With entire towns destroyed, more than 130 people dead, and hundreds of individuals still missing, many residents have been forced to relocate with short warning, and most are depending on emergency relief. Transportation is increasingly dangerous: Emergency responders have warned North Carolina residents, which experienced a century-record amount of deadly flooding, to avoid traveling. Thousands of people are currently being housed in shelters.

Local disaster relief organizations state their most pressing needs remain food, water, and generators, as hundreds of thousands remain without power.

How to get housing through Airbnb

Displaced residents of Florida and North Carolina should reach out to nonprofit partners directly, not Airbnb. “Airbnb.org stays can last anywhere from a few days to about a month depending on the needs of the families we’re helping,” the organization explained. “The goal is to give people a temporary place to stay while they get back on their feet. One of the advantages of working with local partners is that they often integrate Airbnb.org stays with other services they provide, such as support for long-term housing, employment, food security, and healthcare.”

For Florida residents: Call FLUMC at (863)688-5563 or (800)282-8011, or reach out to your local 211.org center.

For North Carolina residents: Contact your local 211.org center.

How to volunteer your Airbnb residence

Airbnb hosts can apply to provide emergency accommodations on Airbnb.org. The company will waive all service fees for hosts and guests, and provide damage and liability insurance.

Where else you can get disaster help

More than 3,000 federal workers are still on the ground providing emergency services to populations, many of which are still flooded. For those in need of help, FEMA recommends contacting local emergency management services or finding a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) near you. Individuals affected by the storm or looking to reunite with loved ones can also reach out directly to the Red Cross (redcross.org/gethelp or 1-800-RED CROSS). Find more information on the organization’s reunification page.

The organization has released disaster funds to Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina residents, which may include a one-time $750 payment. Apply for direct FEMA relief at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA App. Verify if your county is eligible for FEMA assistance:

Volunteer opportunities can be found on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster directory.