Airbnb Says 232 Homes In Southeast Opened For Free During Hurricane Irma

ATLANTA, GA -- Airbnb said that more than 200 people around the Southeast opened their homes free of charge to help people affected by Hurricane Irma, the company told Patch. Users of the popular app in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina took advantage of the company's Disaster Response Program, which offers temporary stays for people during the storm.

Irma roared into Florida as a Category 5 after gaining strength as the strongest storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

In Florida, many people still do not have basic commodities such as electricity or gasoline as the region is still in cleanup mode after assessing the damage. For many people in the Southeast, the Airbnb program has built tremendous goodwill in the storm-affected areas.

The company's global head of disaster relief said that what impressed her the most is that the situation spurred people to lend a hand -- "literally neighbors helping neighbors."

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“With more than 230 temporary accommodations that have been made available so far throughout the states we’ve activated in, this has been one of the largest responses to date for Airbnb’s Disaster Response Program. This number continues to grow, and is a testament to the strength of the Airbnb community-- it is literally neighbors helping neighbors, across communities and states, and it’s great to see,” Airbnb Kellie Bentz said in a statement. “And we know the response to disasters like Hurricane Irma doesn’t end when the storm does-- many people still need places to stay while areas recover and rebuild, and we encourage people to consider making space in their homes available to their neighbors in need.”

In Florida, Irma's destruction means that the program will be needed longer than in other areas in the Southeast.

Meanwhile, Georgia residents affected by Hurricane Irma will get tax relief, the state Department of Revenue has announced. The move means that the state is postponing certain tax-filing deadlines for residents and business owners hit by Irma. On the federal level, the Internal Revenue Service has also granted an extension to storm victims.

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