The in-home hosting program Airbnb says has activated its disaster response program in Chattanooga and East Tennessee, along with cities inland from the southeastern coast, for people who are evacuating the East Coast for Hurricane Florence.
The company said in a news release that people who have fled their homes as well as emergency relief workers and volunteers who are coming to assist will be housed with local hosts at no charge.
Spokesman Ben Breit said the disaster response will be active through Oct. 1 on the company's Open Homes platform.
Kim Rubey, global head of social impact and philanthropy for Airbnb, said the statement that "we encourage hosts in these areas to help those in need by listing their available rooms or homes on the platform for free."