If a natural disaster was headed your way, would you have an emergency plan in place for your short-term rental guests? Hurricanes, tornadoes, hailstorms, and snowstorms can all cause damage and disruption. As a responsible host, it’s essential to take steps to protect your guests from harm. In this blog post, we will discuss the Airbnb natural disaster policy and provide tips on how to keep your guests safe during emergencies.

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Airbnb Natural Disaster Policy: What It Is and How It Works

Airbnb’s natural disaster policy, known as the Major Disruptive Events Policy, exists to help guests and hosts when bad weather, natural disasters, or other unforeseen circumstances make it difficult or impossible to keep a planned trip. The policy allows for guests and hosts to cancel reservations with a full refund or travel credit, and it also provides some flexibility for rebooking.

The policy can provide peace of mind for guests knowing that their trip won’t be ruined by bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. And for hosts, the policy protects them from having to deal with cancellations or no-shows and allows them to cancel a booking without repercussions from Airbnb.

Situations that are covered by the extenuating circumstances policy include:

• Changes to government travel requirements, like an evacuation order

• Declared emergencies and epidemic

• Government travel restrictions

• Large-scale outages of essential utilities

• Military actions and other hostilities

• Natural disasters.

The policy is not intended to cover every possible scenario, but it does cover many of the most common ones. This is not an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of some of the events that are covered by the policy. If you’re ever in doubt, contact Airbnb customer support for more information.

Tips for Protecting Your Guests During a Natural Disaster

You can do several things to protect your guests during a natural disaster. Airbnb has a plan if anyone needs to cancel because of a predicted natural disaster. But what if a guest is already on your property when a natural disaster strikes? There are several things you can do to protect your guests during a natural disaster:

First, make sure you have an emergency plan in place. This should include a list of supplies that you will need, as well as evacuation routes and contact information for local authorities. It is a good idea to have all emergency contact information in your house manual.

Next, provide your guests with emergency supplies. This could include items like non-perishable food, water, flashlights, batteries, and first aid supplies. If possible, it is also a good idea to have a backup power source in case of a power outage. We’ll include an essential list of recommended emergency supplies in the next section.

Finally, keep your guests updated on the situation. If the situation changes, let your guests know as soon as possible.

Supplies to Have on Hand in Case of an Emergency

In case of an emergency, it is crucial to have a supply of food, water, and other essentials on hand. These items don’t need to be accessible to guests at all times. You can keep them in a locked closet and provide them with the code or location of the key in the event they are needed. This will prevent curious guests from using, taking, or damaging supplies when they aren’t required.

Here is a list of recommended emergency supplies for short-term rental hosts:

• Non-perishable food

• Water bottles

• Flashlights

• Batteries

• First aid kit

• A backup power source (e.g., generator)

• Extra blankets

• Emergency contact information

• Emergency whistle

• Multi-functional tools (i.e., Swiss army knife)

• Ponchos (for rentals at risk of hurricanes)

How to Communicate with Your Guests During a Natural Disaster Situation

If a natural disaster is forecasted or occurring during a guest’s stay, it is vital to keep them updated on the situation. This way, they can make an informed decision about whether or not to stay at your rental.

The best way to communicate with your guests is through the Airbnb messaging system (or directly within Host Tools when you integrate your listing). If guests need to evacuate your rental, make sure to let your guests know where to find information on local evacuation announcements.

In the event of a power outage and loss of WiFi, it is also essential to have a backup plan for communication. This could include an emergency cell phone number or a way to communicate via social media messaging.

Final Thoughts

The Airbnb natural disaster policy is a strong tool for protecting your guests and your investment. By providing emergency supplies and keeping your guests updated on the situation, you can ensure their safety and peace of mind in the event of a natural disaster.

Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!