This past weekend, the first major hurricane of the season slammed the coast of North and South Carolina. Hurricane Florence dumped more than two feet of rain in parts of the Carolinas, causing an estimated $18 billion in damages.

During a crisis or natural disaster, we often look to nonprofits or the government to provide aid. But, with limited funding, nonprofits don’t always have enough resources to help, and similarly, the government can only do so much. It’s up to corporate social responsibility to help in times of need, as companies have the majority of resources. The companies that proactively offered assistance before Hurricane Florence are setting a great example of social responsibility for corporate America.

1. Airbnb opened up free housing for evacuees and aid workers from September 10 through Oct. 1. If they have an available space within their home, Hosts can register for Airbnb’s Open Homes program and offer rooms for $0. So far, more than 500 people have opened their homes for free for Hurricane Florence evacuees.
2. Breweries of all sizes, from Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors to smaller, local breweries, sent kegs of clean drinking water to evacuees, businesses, and restaurants across the Carolinas.
3. Although typically associated with their orange moving trucks, U-Haul also rents storage units, and the company offered 30 days of free storage to Hurricane Florence evacuees in the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia. U-Haul also partners with the American Red Cross and local police and fire departments to provide disaster relief.

When a natural disaster like Hurricane Florence strikes, your company can and should help with relief. Here are tips for success:

1. Keep it local – If a hurricane or other crisis is happening where your headquarters or customer base are located, you should absolutely get involved in relief work. A disaster brings communities closer together, and your business should show that it is proud to be a part of the community and willing to go the extra mile to help your local customers.
2. Leverage your strengths – In the examples above, these businesses leveraged their goods and services to help those in need. They didn’t need to start a fundraiser or donation drive to provide aid. Airbnb capitalized on its business model of renting homes for short-term stays, which is useful for evacuees but also raises awareness for Airbnb’s services. In other words, keep doing what your company does best but in a way that is genuine and helps those affected by the hurricane—awareness and goodwill will follow.
3. Talk about it – However your company plans to help, don’t be afraid to talk about what you are doing in a way that is honest, genuine and informative. The primary goal of your communications strategy during a disaster is to get the word out about what services and resources you are offering to your community and how residents can obtain assistance. Utilize social media, email and earned media to drive your message home about what is available to evacuees, why you are offering these resources, and how people who may not be affected by the disaster can also get involved with relief efforts.