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Hurricane Michael volunteers deployed to panhandle after relief missions in Carolinas, Puerto Rico

Local volunteers with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army left Friday en route to the Florida Panhandle to help with recovery.

Red Cross deputy job director Jack Morgan got back from Puerto Rico on Thursday and will now spend the next three to four weeks in Tallahassee.

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“Right now, we’ve got our recon teams out there. We’re setting up these shelters throughout the devastated communities and we’ll be there for the long haul,” said Morgan.

Morgan knows firsthand the power of a major hurricane such as Michael.

“Looks exactly like Andrew in ’92. I deployed to Andrew in ’92. I was down there during the hurricane,” said Morgan.

Nearby, Lt. Dominic Blanford, of the Salvation Army, was packing the disaster response unit he’ll be taking to the Panhandle.

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“It’s devastating. Words cannot describe how I felt this morning as I was packing my bag and telling my kids goodbye,” said Blanford.

Blanford and his wife recently had a newborn, and he’ll be gone for 14 days along with fellow volunteer Jerry Jones.

They’ll stop in Tallahassee first before heading to Panama City on Saturday morning.

“I’m excited about going because we’re going to help people,” said Jones.

The truck they’re taking will have provisions to feed 500 people once it arrives. The Salvation Army also has larger mobile canteens in the area that can provide 15,000 meals a day.

The group said a prayer, with Maj. Bret Tanner before they took off. The Salvation Army and the Red Cross sai they make sure their volunteers get the rest they need and they provide counseling during and following their missions.

“We make sure we send people back after 14 days and send a replacement crew in for those people after that period of time,” said Tanner.

“We actually send counselors to work with the staff where they are at nighttime, so we have counselors available just to talk with the staff because it is emotional. It’s heartbreaking, so you do have to make sure they get rest,” said Morgan.