Zach Osterman | IndyStar

Jordan Guskey, IndyStar

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

BLOOMINGTON – Metro PCS was the only cellphone carrier that could get Reakwon Jones through to his family two weeks ago, as Hurricane Michael crashed into the Florida panhandle.

Jones, a native of Lynn Haven, near Panama City, made sure to check in regularly during the storm. And he was on the other end of the line when a tree fell onto his family’s house.

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“I was able to call my stepdad while everything was going on,” Jones said. “I would call them every few hours to check in, see how they’re doing. When I was on the phone, I guess a tree had fell on the house. I heard everyone scream.

“It broke my heart, because I couldn’t be there. I had to hear them go through stuff like that.”

Being in Bloomington — and more specifically, away from his family — has exacted an emotional toll on Jones these last two weeks.

Jamie Sabau, Getty Images

He played through the distraction and concern against Iowa, leaning on linebackers coach Kane Wommack, head coach Tom Allen, IU’s support staff and his teammates. And getting only sporadic updates from home, with cell service so spotty and poor.

“At first, I felt helpless,” Jones said. “I felt really down, because everybody wants to be there with their family or friends, when they’re going through something tough. To actually hear the pain in their voice when I was talking to them, it hurt, but my mom’s really strong. She encouraged me, no matter what. If I’m OK, she’s gonna be OK.”

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According to Jones, the storm took nearly everything. Both of his parents’ houses are destroyed. The greater Panama City area is reeling. A. Crawford Mosley High School, Jones’ alma mater, reportedly lost part of its roof.

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PHOTOS: Panama City recovers from Hurricane Michael

“The hurricane pretty much destroyed the whole city,” Jones said Monday. “I think five schools are completely gone. My mom’s house is gone. All our clothes and stuff in the house are gone. My father’s house got destroyed completely, and I still haven’t been able to talk to him because there’s not much service in the city. My nephew’s still there.

“And I know the looting, the civil (unrest), it’s getting bad.”

Which made this weekend so meaningful.

Jones’ mother, stepfather and siblings have relocated to Alabama, where they’re staying with family for now. On Friday, they rented a car and drove to Bloomington for IU’s home game against Penn State. It was the first time Jones had seen any of them since January, and he admitted Monday it was as close to normal as he’s felt since Michael made landfall.

“It was a blessing,” Jones said. “I got to see them at the Walk, which was extremely emotional, and after the game, I got to hang out with them.”

Darron Cummings, AP

They couldn’t afford a hotel, so they piled into Jones’ bedroom. Just him, his mother, his stepfather, his brother, his sister and his two dogs.

“We made it work. We packed in there,” Jones said, smiling. “We just hung out, had fun, caught up, talked and just shared feelings and stuff like that. It was just great. It was really good for me.

“It’s really hard to focus when you haven’t seen your family in forever, and then something like that happens. I was able to see them, lay eyes on them and see that they were physically OK. They were excited to see me. My little brother and sister did not want to leave. They were fighting all yesterday trying to stay longer, the whole week.”

Working with IU’s coaches and compliance department, Jones set up an NCAA-approved GoFundMe page for his family, to try and help them get back on their feet.

Jones has linked the page on both his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

“I’m not looking for big donors,” he said. “Just whatever someone can donate, we’re grateful for anything that happens. We’re just trying to find a way to restart, build on, and just move on in life and put this in the past. No one wants to hang onto this forever.”

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.