A Mid-Michigan woman and her family are doing what they can to help those in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.
"Hey guys its Tessa, we are getting ready to load up to head to Florida."
Tessa Johnson and her family are from Panama City, Florida, but relocated to Lansing a few years ago. On Sunday, the family began the trip to their hometown to help out with the devastation. Johnson says its been an emotional past few days, trying to get in contact with her loved ones in the area.
"So the last conversation we had with several people was that there were barricading doors and roofs were coming off and trees were coming through windows and tops of roofs and then everybody lost contact for about 27 hours. So it was extremely stressful and scary," she said.
Johnson says her family and the friends she spoke to are okay, but many of them lost everything. That's when she thought of the idea to load up a trailer, and take down supplies to those in need. She asked the community for donations as well. She said the response was heartwarming.
"Its not only incredible to watch everybody from home pull together, but everyone that knows, or has some kind of connection to Panama City, and people who have never even met anyone from Panama City are just willing to give. Its huge," she said.
The family is picking up items and other donations on the route and hope to be there sometime Monday. Johnson says its a long road, and it won't be easy for her hometown to pick up the pieces.
"Continue to keep that area in your prayers....they're going to need it."
If you want to help those in need, Johnson says people can head to ob.org or lighthousepcb.com to donate or volunteer.
