LIVE OAK — Evacuating Panama City for a few days before Hurricane Michael hit, Shelley and Mark Morgan were not expecting to return to complete devastation.

However when Michael intensified into nearly a Category 5 storm, much of the panhandle of Florida and southwest Georgia was destroyed.

That included most of the Morgan’s neighborhood.

“We were fortunate, very blessed,” Shelley Morgan said. “Just on our street alone, there are probably two that are still livable and one was ours. We’re very, very blessed.

“It is amazing how many people do not have homes. We are definitely blessed. We still have a roof. It’s damaged, but we’re able to go inside and get the things we need. Unlike pretty much every one of our neighbors, their ceilings have collapsed and they’ve lost everything.”

Blessed, the Morgans are now trying to share some blessings themselves with the help of Mark’s hometown of Live Oak.

The Morgans were in route back to Panama City on Tuesday morning with a load of supplies gathered from Suwannee Primary School as well as area churches and family and friends.

“There are just so many people in need and we’re just going to try and distribute them the best that we can,” Shelley Morgan said, adding that they are planning to continue running supplies back to the panhandle as long as there is a need. “Nobody has had running water or electricity since Wednesday. Everywhere and anywhere there are people standing in need.”

In addition to the Morgans, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center and Live Oak Police Department have begun collecting items for those in need in western Florida as well.

Items needed include toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap, batteries, flashlights, hand sanitizer, wet wipes, cleaning essentials, large gallon trash bags and paper towels. The EOC is located at 617 Ontario Ave. SW #200 while LOPD’s station is at 205 White Ave. SE. Branford Pawn, 508 SW Savannah St., is another collection site.

The Pregnancy Care Center, 137 Grand St. NE, is also collecting items with the SCSO, focusing on diapers, wipes, formula and bottles.

“Once we realized that we dodged that bullet and naturally, once everybody saw how bad that they got it in Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach, everybody was wanting to help them,” Sheriff Sam St. John said, adding that Emergency Management also delivered generators, water, cots and MREs to the Gadsden County EOC last week after the storm.

The supplies requested by SPS to help the Morgans are tarps for coverage, dog and cat food, baby formula and diapers, disinfectant wipes, cleaning supplies, construction garbage bags, flashlights and batteries, non-perishable food items, paper towels, first aid supplies (bandages, antibiotic ointment, gauze and tape, peroxide, rubbing alcohol and Tylenol/Motrin for both children and adults).

The outpouring of support locally comes after the impacts of the storm were limited in Suwannee County.

St. John, the county’s Emergency Management Director, said Thursday morning that there had been no reports of property damage in the county.

“We fared really well,” St. John said. “I’m not complaining at all. With the reports of 30-40 mile per hour winds and gusts up to 60 miles per hour, I figured we’d have trees down, but there’s been nothing reported.”

St. John said the only issues caused by the storm locally were power outages. Crews from Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperate and Duke Energy Florida began working Oct. 10 to restore power to those without it.

As of Thursday afternoon, the entire county had power restored. SVEC’s peak outage was 4,055 consumers across Suwannee, Hamilton, Lafayette and Columbia counties from 6:45-7 p.m. Oct. 10.

“We have a lot to be thankful for in the Suwannee Valley,” SVEC CEO Michael McWaters said in a release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends in the Panhandle who are suffering so much more from this storm.”

SVEC was also among those in the area who also have begun finding ways to help those affected by the storm.

Director of Operations Andy Lawrence and 14 linemen and right-of-way crewmen left for the panhandle a little before dawn Sunday to help Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative rebuild its system.

“Oh gosh, it’s been amazing,” Shelley Morgan said of the support. “Through all this devastation and heartbreak to see these people come together and give us all these supplies, that they care and they want to help, it’s definitely heartwarming at a time like this. It definitely makes your heart feel a little bit better after lose your hometown.”