Victims of Hurricane Katrina carry what is left of their belongings after neighborhoods were devastated by the storm Aug. 29, 2005. Photo: MGN Online Wasn?t it the mainstream media that publicized the failed response to Katrina victims by FEMA and the Red Cross due to race and class? One would think that the government and other organizations would have applauded the efforts of Minister Farrakhan making an effort to learn about disaster management and preparedness on behalf of the Millions More Movement and Black community, in general.

European countries and disaster relief organizations over the years have sent delegations to study the Cuban model in the area of disaster preparedness and management, yet they were not criticized in the press for their trips. Why did the press single out Minister Farrakhan and the MMM?

Wasn’t it the mainstream media that publicized the failed response to Katrina victims by FEMA and the Red Cross due to race and class? One would think that the government and other organizations would have applauded the efforts of Minister Farrakhan making an effort to learn about disaster management and preparedness on behalf of the MMM and Black community, in general.

In addition to preparing the Black community to respond and manage any future disaster affecting the Black and poor of America, the information garnered from Minister Farrakhan’s trip can benefit America and help repair the damage done to her image around the world, especially when the Bush administration rejected the offer of help from the Cuban people to help the victims of Katrina.

In the Bible, did not Pharaoh turn to Joseph and give him control over the storehouses when his kingdom was devastated by famine? Did not Joseph show mercy to his jealous brothers, feed them and their families during the famine after they sold him into slavery?

As a disaster specialist, I have studied the success of the Cuban disaster model and their role in disaster management around the world. The Cuban disaster responders do not interfere with the local views or national governments nor were any strings attached to their assistance. Anyone in the field of disaster management is aware that interfering or taking sides in a disaster is a cardinal sin. Disaster management experts do not interfere in a country’s or community’s domestic policies or use it as a stepping stone to "convert" people to a religion.

However, U.S.-based disaster relief organizations have violated this code and used disasters around the world as a recruitment tool for religion for over a hundred years.

The greatest lesson about disaster preparedness and management in the Cuban model is that each ministry, business, governmental and social organization supports disaster preparedness training at the top. Each individual, department and community member is responsible to the average man and woman on the street, no matter what position or non-position they held in business or government.

Cuba began educating their population years ago, with little resources, because they were isolated and under sanctions. Hurricane Katrina taught Black organizations about the isolations they felt when they were rejected, due to fear and racism on behalf of White disaster organizations, as well as lack of disaster management and preparedness training in the Black community.

Black organizations and churches must not let the mainstream media or different religious views confuse the issue and purpose of Minister Farrakhan’s trip to Cuba to learn about disaster management. The first step made by Minister Farrakhan was to commission a documentary to educate our people with the DVD, The Unmasking of New Orleans—the only head of a Black organization to do so. This documentary is now being shown throughout the country and world by disaster presenters trained under the MMM.

The MMM-Local Organizing Committees have been training any organization interested in conducting Disaster Management Training for their members with no strings attached since last year. I encourage readers of The Final Call to purchase the tape, "Right to Return with Justice, Equality and Dignity" and review the message with your local community leaders. Minister Farrakhan directed that helping the Gulf Coast disaster victims would become the centerpiece of the Millions More Movement.

Remember, the "Good Samaritan" was not trying to "convert" the man left in the road; his concern was to get him out of harm’s way so he wouldn’t die of his wounds. When we watched the victims of Katrina suffer, it didn’t matter what their religion, race or social status, we responded as a country and a people.

Let’s remember to be on the watch for the smart, crooked, deceiver that is trying to divert the mission of the MMM and let’s concentrate on helping the victims of the Gulf Coast who need our love and support. Let’s help build a modern Noah’s Ark and leave no man, woman or child behind to drown.