Hurricane leveled Robinson’s home
TALLAHASSEE — While the Florida State football team prepares to host Wake Forest during homecoming, Seminoles defensive lineman Janarius Robinson is working to put the pieces of his life back together.
The Robinson family’s home in Panama City was destroyed by Hurricane Michael.
“It’s the memories,” Robinson said on Wednesday when asked what he lost during the storm. “That house has been there forever. It’s my grandma’s house.
“Some of the stuff, memories, you can’t get that stuff back. Especially the house.”
Hurricane Michael left Panama City unrecognizable to Robinson.
“It was very weird because it just really looked like someone dropped a nuclear bomb on us,” Robinson said. “Everything is destroyed. From buildings to schools to houses. Churches. If you didn’t know where you was, you wouldn’t know because nothing looks the same.”
Robinson returned to his childhood home Friday morning and was heartbroken by utter ruin.
His first task, like many others who lost their home, was to rummage through the loose dry wall and debris in hopes of salvaging memories.
The storm left Robinson’s mom and aunts homeless.
“Broke my heart yesterday, watching my God Son #11Jrob dig through what was left of his home trying to salvage some of the memories he and his mom made,” Omega Wynn, Robinson’s godfather, posted on Twitter.
Robinson and his family evacuated to Georgia until the storm passed and then traveled to Panama City that Friday. Before driving back, Robinson opened his direct message box on Twitter to those searching for loved ones.
One post by Morgan Elise read, “My whole family is in [Panama City] and I literally can’t get in contact with anyone. I just need to talk to my granny.”
Robinson replied, “Only phone tower working is AT&T. All the other ones are down. I’m going back to Panama as soon as I hear word…[direct message] me a address I’ll go look.”
To Wynn, Robinson’s effort to help his community was not a surprise.
“In the midst of all the devastation, he continued to talk about how or whom he could help around the city,” Wynn said.
Robinson was able to leave the devastation behind, arriving on campus Monday afternoon and couldn’t keep a smile off his face throughout practice on Tuesday.
“This is a time for me to get my mind away and off of things that’ve happened,” Robinson said when asked if football was therapeutic for him. “I come out here, get my mind off it and get back to work with my brothers.”