In September, Hurricane Helene caused massive damage to long-term care facilities across the Southeast. Despite the destruction, these challenges inspired a wave of support for caregivers to help them recover and continue their work.
One example is Principle LTC, a North Carolina-based company operating in North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. Principle stepped in quickly to assist its caregivers by offering resources, funds, and guidance.
“Our Principle Cares program allowed us to provide immediate financial help,” said Lynn Hood, CEO of Principle LTC. “Thanks to generous donations through principlecares.org, we could expand our support to even more team members.”
Caregivers at Principle and other facilities went above and beyond to provide quality care to residents while facing personal hardships. Their efforts left a lasting impression.
Faith Perkins, Chief Human Resources Officer at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, NC, shared, This was a life-changing event, but the sense of community and care for both staff and residents has been extraordinary.
To ease the burden on employees, Deerfield introduced the “Camp Deerfield Junior” program. This initiative provided childcare for 20 children while their schools were closed due to the storm. The kids enjoyed arts and crafts, meals, and engaging activities with residents.
Similarly, Principle LTC quickly prepared and delivered over 500 relief boxes within 48 hours of the hurricane. Each box included a week’s supply of food, essentials, and warm blankets.
CEO Lynn Hood credited her team’s experience and preparation for these efforts. Our leadership team has extensive experience managing hurricanes. We followed detailed checklists to ensure facilities had enough food, medicines, and supplies before the storm arrived.
Remarkably, none of Principle’s 56 facilities had to close during the storm, a testament to the team’s hard work and dedication.
Hurricane Helene claimed over 230 lives and caused damages exceeding $53 billion in North Carolina alone. Yet, the 2024 hurricane season highlighted valuable lessons for the future.
“This season showed us the importance of preparation, teamwork, and having leaders with diverse expertise,” Hood explained. “Those with disaster response experience were essential in managing resources and handling challenges like damaged infrastructure. These lessons will make us stronger for future emergencies.”
The response to Hurricane Helene serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience and dedication of long-term care providers, even in the face of immense challenges.