There was an ad like that running in Louisiana way before Katrina, but the one I saw wasn't particularly racial. It just said something like the Red Cross was a place where someone who doesn't look like you or share your views would still be there to help you in your time of need. I think you were supposed to get the idea that your rescuer could be anyone from a grandfather to a green-haired punk rocker, but they all had the same thing in common, a desire to help. Still, I didn't care much for the ad.
According to Invisible Church in post 1, the ad you and he saw was the same one I saw and it was running pre Katrina.
I had not seen it until yesterday and I assumed it was racially based even though it may not have been intended to be that way.
Nevertheless, the ad does say "I don't look like you" which is pretty bad no matter how you slice it. As soon as you say "I don't not look like you.", you a dividing people along a very superficial interpretation and possibly stigmatizing one, both, or all parties.
And the punch line that goes "I will save your life" is very arrogant and condescending, pre or post Katrina.