As Nation of Islam First Lady Khadijah Farrakhan watched the televised misery of family after family who were devastated by Hurricane Floyd, tears welled in her eyes. She shook her head in despair. As she wiped the tears she knew she had to help the flood victims.

She turned to her husband, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, and told him something had to be done. A nationwide relief effort was organized. But not just another religious relief effort that gathers supplies and sends them off to the needy. In addition to the supplies gathered by cities all across the country, Mother Farrakhan personally shopped for clothes, shoes, toiletries and farm fresh fruit that she recently delivered to the flood victims.

"I saw all of that pain and suffering and knew I had to do something to help," said Mother Farrakhan. "It is only the will of God that whoever is alive is alive. I had to come and show my support."

Mother Farrakhan and her delegation, which included her daughter Maria Farrakhan Muhammad, Mid-Atlantic Regional Minister Khadir Muhammad, Mid-Atlantic Regional F.O.I. Captain Dion Muhammad, his wife Vanguard Captain Karen Muhammad and Rocky Mount Study Group Coordinator Ray Muhammad, toured the largest shelter, condemned homes and the trailer park where residents have been relocated.

The largest shelter in Rocky Mount was housed at the Tarboro High School. At one point it was home to 3,000 men, women and children. Residents have slowly been relocated.

Merle Green of the American Red Cross greeted the group at Tarboro High School. "Thank you so much for all of this. We�ll keep the things and make sure the families get them," she said after receiving The Final Call truckload of supplies.

Mother Farrakhan talked with numerous residents and volunteers who were eager to meet her and receive the supplies she brought. "I think it is wonderful that you came this far to help us," said Shannise Payton, another good Samaritan who took off from work to bring goodie bags to the children at the shelter.

Not only did Mother Farrakhan bring supplies, she also took note of the other things they needed that she could bring back on her next trip.

"We plan to continue sending and bringing things down here," said the first lady, "they really need Black hair care products. I brought some but they need more. One sister asked me if I brought any perm. I hated having to tell her no."

From the shelter, Mother Farrakhan walked to the cooking area to deliver the fresh fruit, which was warmly received by Joe Reynolds of the Southern Baptist Convention Georgia Disaster Relief. "We cook 3,000 meals a day and the Red Cross delivers them to the community. This is our third week here. We do what we do for the Lord. We�ll be here until it�s over," he said.

From the shelter the delegation toured the neighborhood where residents were still trying to salvage through water soaked belongings. What was most noticeable throughout the neighborhood were the yellow signs posted on all of the houses. The sign read, "Building unfit for human habitation."

The first stop was at the home of Mrs. Queen B. Smith. There was very little left to be saved but still she looked through her belongings and counted her blessings. "I thank God I made it because so many people didn�t," she said.

While there, Mother Farrakhan spoke with Roy A. Gray of the Tarboro City Council who expressed his concerns about the government�s relief efforts. "They can do better and the government must do better. People already have mortgages. All FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is talking about are loans. They have to do something better. We�re not going to accept loans. We need help rebuilding our homes, not loans," he said.

"The people are just taking what they�re getting to relieve the pain and suffering but it�s not fair. In every relief office there needs to be a local person there to help us. That�s what we�ve told Rep. Eva Clayton�s office," he said, referring to the local congressmen.

Mr. Gray wants to organize the people to make the same demand on the banks and insurance companies. "Right now the banks and insurance companies are telling us that if you didn�t have flood insurance they can�t help us," he said, "but as a community we must say to the banks and insurance companies, you can do better. You have to be in a flood zone to get flood insurance and this wasn�t even a flood zone."

"We have to look at every disaster over the last 10 years and see what�s been done so we�ll know what our options are that they might not be telling us about," said Mr. Gray. "Our people lost everything because it�s hard to get people to leave when the streets are dry."

Next Mother Farrakhan toured Mr. Jordan Shaw�s condemned home. "I�ve won the most beautiful home on this street two years in a row and now it�s gone," he said. "The water started rising like someone was pouring it out of a glass. The police came and said everybody had to get out now. We left for higher ground. Coffins were floating down the street from the cemetery."

Some of the homeless have found refuge in the trailer park created for the flood victims. The trailers are located 30 minutes outside of town. The trailers can accommodate up to six people but the quarters are comparable to living in a phone booth with Clark Kent, some residents said.

The residents have lost their homes, furniture, jobs and businesses. They spend day in and day out dealing with relief volunteers, government officials and trying to explain to children why they have nothing and can�t go home again.

"One woman lost everything, totally. She didn�t even have time to get her purse. She doesn�t even have any ID. I�m glad we came to see this and offer our help," said Mother Farrakhan.

Before she left the Trailer Park a young woman on crutches heard Mrs. Farrakhan was there and rushed to see her. "I�m so happy somebody cared enough to come and see how we were doing," said Kathy Gross with tears in her eyes. By that time, at the end of the day, the tears became contagious and Mrs. Farrakhan gave her a tear filled hug.

"Today was a learning experience and I want to continue doing whatever I can to help," said Mother Farrakhan.