Southeast Offers 1,200+ Homes For Hurricane Dorian Evacuees

GEORGIA — Southern hospitality was brought to a new level this weekend after more than 1,200 homes were offered for free for people evacuating Hurricane Dorian and relief workers who needed a place to stay.

Airbnb launched its Open Homes Program to help displaced residents and relief workers deployed to the southeast region impacted by Hurricane Dorian. The program recruits hosts who are willing and able to provide free housing to displaced residents, and disaster relief workers in the activation area.

More than 1,200 hosts opened their homes to evacuees and relief workers in need from Hurricane Dorian through the Open Homes program, which has been activated through Sept. 16. The Open Homes program for Hurricane Dorian was first activated on Aug. 28 to assist those in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The new activation area on the U.S. mainland includes the majority of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Alabama.

This activation for Hurricane Dorian is one of Airbnb's largest ever activation for a natural disaster.

"Airbnb's Open Homes Program continues to be activated for those affected by Hurricane Dorian across the southeast U.S. region," Kellie Bentz, Airbnb's Head of Global Disaster Response and Relief said in a press release. "Through the program, those in need of temporary accommodations can connect with Open Homes hosts in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama free of charge. We encourage hosts to open up their homes, and those who need housing to take advantage of the program."

This concept began organically in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and has since grown into a global disaster response initiative that makes it easy for Airbnb hosts to provide space for people in need when disasters strike.

Since its inception in 2012, the Open Homes program has housed 30,000 people in 61 countries. During the most recent event in the area, Tropical Storm Michael, 1,000 hosts opened their homes.

Atlanta Motor Speedway also opened its camping facilities to evacuees seeking refuge from Hurricane Dorian. The Speedway, which is equipped to handle thousands of campers during its annual NASCAR weekend, will provide camping space free of charge for dry RV and tent campers in its Legends Campground. A limited number of camping spaces with water, power and sewer are also available for a nominal fee of $20 per night in the Premier Campground. Located adjacent to the campgrounds, AMS will also open The Rinnai Shower Station camper bath house, allowing evacuees free access to hot showers and restroom facilities during their stay.

For accommodations in Georgia, visit the Official Georgia Tourism and Travel website.

Evacuees and their pets are welcome in Georgia's State Parks, including horses at parks with equestrian facilities. Check GaStateParks.org for hurricane policies and status updates.

While Hurricane Dorian continues to pound the coast of Georgia, other parts of the state may feel the effects of the storm Wednesday night into Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for portions of north and central Georgia.

A Wind Advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday through 8 a.m. Thursday generally along and east of a line from McRae to Summertown. Winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph will be possible, the NWS said.

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible across portions of east central Georgia today and into the overnight hour as Hurricane Dorian passes to the east. A few storms may become strong, capable of producing brief gusty winds, locally heavy rainfall, and occasional lightning, the NWS said.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Dorian is a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph and is moving NNW toward the Georgia coast at 8 mph.

The center of Dorian will continue to move just offshore the Florida coast and continue moving initially northwest and move just offshore the Georgia coastline by later Wednesday into early Thursday before turning northeastward toward the Carolinas.