Airbnb Activates Open Homes Program In GA For Michael Evacuees

Airbnb has activated its Open Homes program in Georgia, Alabama and Florida to help house people who've been evacuated due to the approaching Hurricane Michael. In the event of emergencies like Hurricane Michael, Airbnb activates its host community through its Open Homes. The platform allows residents who have been displaced, as well as emergency relief workers and volunteers who are coming in to assist, to find temporary accommodation with local Airbnb hosts who are opening their homes free of charge.

The free listings are available from Oct. 8-29, 2018. The program was launched in 2012 to help people find safe, welcoming places to stay after natural disasters, wars, conflict, and other events.

Hosts in the regions marked on the map are opening their homes for free from October 8, 2018 to October 29, 2018 for displaced neighbors and relief workers deployed to help.

Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency for 92 middle and south Georgia counties ahead of Hurricane Michael. Deal said he made the declarations based on the latest forecast for the storm and on recommendations from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) officials. The emergency declaration is effective for seven days and makes all state resources available to local governments and entities within the impacted area of the hurricane.

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Michael Approaches GA: Flash Flood Watches Start

Flash flood watches are set to go into effect Wednesday throughout Georgia, as Hurricane Michael has already caused thousands of people to evacuate throughout Florida. Some mandatory evacuation orders and school closures were issued on Monday in the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area as the category 2 hurricane spun toward Florida, gaining strength in the warm Gulf waters.

The National Hurricane Center said Michael could be a Category 3 hurricane with 120-mph winds by the time it reaches the Panhandle. Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for 35 Florida counties.

In Georgia, the NHC said Michael could produce 3 to 6 inches of rain in eastern Georgia, creating possibly life-threatening flash floods, through Friday. Tropical storm watches are now in effect in portions of extreme south Georgia,

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Michael Could Disrupt Southwest Flights In Atlanta
SEE ALSO: Hurricane Michael Impact: GA To See Strong Winds, Rain, Tornadoes

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Season 2018: Fewer Storms Forecast

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Image National Weather Service