Photo submitted to the Times Observer by Michelle Barnes This photo shows the same location on Lafayette Street at the intersection of Madison Street in Marianna prior to Hurricane Michael.

Last year, Brian Hoden helped collect supplies when he heard about a local vet taking a U-haul to Texas for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Hoden, and his wife, Michelle Barnes, with the help of friends, are now planning a similar mission of their own — as Hurricane Michael transformed Barnes’ hometown into what Hoden described as a scene that resembles a “bunch of broken toothpicks.”

The most recent reported death toll from the Category 4 storm that made landfall on Oct. 10 stands at 32 people.

Barnes, grew up in Marianna, Fla. Her father, stepmother, son and extended family still live in Jackson County.

“My sister lost her home,” Barnes said. Her sister did not evacuate. She did capture video of the walls of her home coming down.

Photo submitted to the Times Observer by Michelle Barnes Barnes is a resident of Clarendon who grew up in Marianna, Fla. This photo shows Lafayette Street at the intersection in Marianna after Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10 as a category 4 storm.

Her 75-year-old father’s house is intact, she said. She is concerned that he is overdoing it as he cleans up fallen trees. “We’re taking chainsaws,” Hoden said. “He needs a break.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared Jackson County a disaster area

Marianna is located in Jackson County about an hour and a half inland from Panama City, which bore the brunt of the storm.

While Barnes said storm damage was worse in Panama City, much of her hometown was destroyed due to hurricane force winds that topped 150 miles per hour. Buildings that still stand have roof damage, she said.

“Marianna was a lot like Warren, without the hills,” Barnes, now of Clarendon, said. “Homes had big old trees in front. Now those trees are down.”

Barnes said she knew that she needed to do what she could to help her family members and hometown. “When this happened, I thought of the U-Haul we packed last year but we don’t have that kind of money or a trailer,” Hoden said. That’s where the little help from their friends comes in.

Barnes is a bookkeeper at AVAS, Inc. in Warren. Owner Al Loranger III said giving Barnes a week off with pay seemed the obvious thing to do. “If I were in her shoes, I would want to be with my family,” Loranger said.

Loranger is also loaning the couple his trailer to hold donations and supplies.

“We just started collecting donations two or three days ago,” Hoden said.

“We couldn’t even plan a trip until we knew that some roads had been cleared,” Barnes added.

The trip south is planned for Oct. 26. Donations will be accepted right up until the couple hits the road. The needs are many, according to Barnes.

Barnes pointed out that many people didn’t just lose their homes… “A lot of businesses were blown away,” she said. “People have no jobs and no income. This isn’t a wealthy area.”

Limited supplies of items that are needed and a 7 p.m. curfew in Marianna are also restricting residents in the area from getting things they need. “If stores are open, they are out of things people need,” she said. “If you have a car and can travel to a store, you have to be back in your house by 7 p.m.”

So what can local people do to help? Barnes has some suggestions. “Walmart and Lowes in the Marianna area have reopened,” she said. “We could use gift cards from those stores.”

“Gas cards are helpful but there are different companies there,” she said. “Maybe a pre-paid Visa card would be helpful.”

Barnes has been in touch with those in the area as needs are changing, but she said they could definitely use: tarps to cover roofs, baby supplies, personal hygiene items. first aid supplies, cleaning products, paper goods, rakes and tools, cat and dog food and bottled water.

Linemen from various power companies are working non-stop to restore service, she said. “They need sunscreen,” she said. “They’re getting burned.”

“They also need bug spray,” she said. “Wasps lost their homes in the trees and now they’re swarming.”

“If anyone has a chainsaw they would be willing to donate that would help, too,” Hoden said.

Anyone who would like to help can drop off donations at AVAS, 920 Pennsylvania Ave. West, Warren, or Maurice’s women’s clothing store, 2769 Market St.

Donated items can also be picked up by calling the AVAS office at (814) 779-1872.