Just wondering what the panhandle area of FL is like?  Food/Fuel shortages?  Highways jammed up?

This is not first hand knowledge as I am working out of the area, but the wife has reported the following in the FWB/Navarre area;

1. Some gas pumps are out of mid-grade or premium, but you could find gas if you needed it and there were no lines.
2. I-10 was jammed up pretty good there for a bit due to evacuees.
3. Every hotel in the area is booked up solid.
4. Navarre Walmart was short bread, water, and some canned goods. Everything else was still stocked decently.

Weather-wise, I think all that's expected up there are some gnarly tropical storms.

Pensacola checking in. The above report is spot on.

I have a trip planned there for this coming weekend........what should it be like by then?

Windy, it's actually chilly, sporadic light rain, amd cloudy.FHP has asked people to try and stay off the Interstate. A few businesses are closed (publix, target, etc).

Will things be getting back to normal by this coming weekend do you think?

Yes