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Tom Garcia examined the damage to an apartment building located on the coastal road in Mexico Beach, Florida, touring his walk through the debris on Friday. (October 13)
AP

The blue sky and calm water conceal the damage caused by Hurricane Michael in Mexico Beach, Florida. area. (Photo: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY NETWORK)

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – While crews continued to search Saturday for thousands of missing people after Hurricane Michael, victims of Hurricane Michael were left in search of food and of water, trying to replenish their lives.

The toll of the monstrous storm increased almost daily as crews traveled to some of the hardest-hit areas. Friday night, it was again 17, according to CNN and Reuters.

Eight people died in Florida, five in Virginia, three in North Carolina and one in Georgia, news organizations reported.

According to some estimates, nearly 300 people remained behind, ignoring the evacuation demands, while the storm fell on the category 4 monster. Officials have recorded thousands of missing persons, but With network failures, it is difficult to determine if some of the missing persons are simply unable to communicate with loved ones.

Long lines of waiting have formed in distribution centers where the authorities distribute food and water to people in need. The National Guard helped Saturday to organize a station at Lucille Moore Elementary School in Panama City, Florida.

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The Sanford, Florida troops prepared a dozen pallets of bottled water early Saturday. But more than supplies, the group of about 97 soldiers was trying to give hope.

Grateful families smiled, greeted and thanked the soldiers as they filled them with supplies, and the soldiers smiled, waved back, and offered words of encouragement.

"The smiles are contagious," said 2nd Lieutenant Scott Mandelberg.

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Hurricane Michael ravaged Panama City, Florida. The aerial views of the past show the extent of the destruction.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

He added that the company had arrived Wednesday and had spent the last days cleaning the roads and distributing the necessary items. He added that even the most veteran soldiers could only marvel at the damage.

"We have guys who have been part of the Florida National Guard for 10-15 years, and they even recognize the devastation," Mandelberg said.

Nevertheless, he added that the company was trained, prepared and willing to attend – ready to stay as long as necessary.

"We are also Floridians and you are our neighbors," said Mandelberg on behalf of the company. "We are committed to protecting the lives and property of our citizens and customers."

David Passey, a spokesman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said FEMA had provided more than 700,000 meals and over a million liters of water.

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Governor Rick Scott has called Florida "a very resilient state" following his visit to the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael.
USA TODAY & # 39; HUI

He said that in the short term, the goal is to "get the debris out of the area so that food and water can enter urgently and that the chain of Local supply – grocery stores, hardware stores – can get in and do what she has to do. "

Becca Aldridge and her daughters, 7-year-old Cesaleigh and 5-year-old Cydaleigh, crossed a busy 11th Avenue, carrying plastic foam crates filled with pie from a truck. Salvation Army parked in front of the damaged college on the other side of the street.

It was the first hot meal of the girls for days, she said.

The family is out of hurricane in their beach house. The house lost its roof, flooding the occupants and the contents of rain and seawater.

They are still at home, despite the rapidly growing moisture and mold, for the same reason that they did not leave before the storm. "We do not have money," said Aldridge.

Many felt the same feeling of despair. Mahbubur Rahman and his wife, Farzana Akter, opened their new convenience store on Monday.

On Tuesday, they closed them. On Wednesday, they lost everything.

Standing behind the Panama City convenience store counter – the brand new Stop N 'Go Jr. – Rahman watched as his family and employees swept broken broken glass and ceiling tiles on Saturday.

A mountain of sweets, still in its soaked and inedible wrappings, was sitting in a sunbeam pouring down a big hole in the ceiling, the only light in the store so dark.

"I do not know what I'm going to do," he says again, holding back tears. "I have nothing left."

Even those who have escaped destruction are without electricity or running water for the foreseeable future.

Electricity and mobile services are starting to be restored in parts of Florida, but emergency management officials in the states reported Saturday that nearly 264,000 customers still have not Electricity in the state.

They also said that 80% of mobile phone services had been reinstated throughout the hurricane-hit Michael area. But figures remain high in the most affected areas.

Hayes reported from Washington, DC; Robinson and Rogers reported from Panama City, Florida. Contribution: Associated Press

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