The White House has declared much of North Carolina as federal
disaster areas and once President Clinton traveled to the state Sept.
20, federal officials started to list the help that would be
available.
The Department of Agriculture approved food stamps to help families
eat and USDA started making low-interest loans available to help
farmers cope with losses they suffered in both crops and property.
USDA financial and technical assistance for farmers was also on tap,
along with teams to help southeast coastal communities assess and
repair environmental damage. An early estimate of at least $17 million
was expected to be needed for that work. The USDA Forest Service sent
chainsaw teams to clear roads and other areas closed by fallen trees,
and logistics specialists to help purchase and distribute equipment
and supplies, such as generators, bottled water, and plastic to cover
homes that lost their roofs.
Other agencies were offering low interest loans to rebuild
businesses and homes, and money for emergency housing. The Labor
Department put up $12 million to temporarily hire people for clean-up
and other post-flood activity. The Department of Defense, meanwhile,
was assisting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its
response to Hurricane Floyd all along the east coast. The Department
of Defense provided personnel, equipment, and supplies to help FEMA
save lives and protect public health, safety, and property, officials
said.
"If there�s one thing I�ve learned visiting so many
natural disasters, as the president and, before that, for a dozen
years as a governor, is that no matter how much television there is,
it doesn�t do it justice. Because it can�t show what it feels like
inside for people to lose a business they�ve put everything into; to
people who lose their home when they have to take their kids to a
shelter and not know where they�re going to spend the night next
week; for farmers to have labored for four years and see a crop
totally destroyed by water or the sun and not know whether they can
keep their land or wonder if they can ever buy seed again," said
Mr. Clinton, during his post hurricane visit to Tarboro, N.C. He
promised to do all he could to help people get back on their feet and
rebuild their lives.
With all due respect to the president, we humbly repeat words that
can truly help America. The Hon. Elijah Muhammad and his top student,
the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, have consistently warned
America that the day of God�s judgment has arrived. They have warned
America must repent for past and present evil done to Black people and
the indigenous people in North America.
Federal money may help rebuild homes and businesses but it can�t
buy America a needed spiritual and moral renaissance. It also can�t
stop acts of God�rain, hail, snow, earthquake and hurricanes�from
striking America and bringing her to her knees.
Since 1995, Min. Farrakhan has urged America�s leaders to lead
the nation in atonement. He has urged Mr. Clinton to lead the way that
America might be saved as Ninevah was saved through heeding the
warning given by Prophet Jonah.
We urge Mr. Clinton and America�s leaders to open their hearts
and minds to a divine warning and we urge Black America to especially
heed the warning. God is angry with America and no federal funding can
change that�true repentance and justice are the only way out, if it�s
not already too late.