With more than 1.2 million accommodation listings in more than 34,000 cities worldwide, and a $24 billion valuation, Airbnb may seem like any other corporate juggernaut crushing the competition and disregarding community needs. But the online rental service seems to have a heart.

Next week, Airbnb will be notifying more than 100,000 hosts in the U.S. about a partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide free shelter in disaster areas. With the North American hurricane season in full swing, Airbnb hosts in the southern United States, especially on the Gulf Coast, will be asked to prepare to house both victims and rescue workers in the event of a major storm.