[Tax-chick]

trying to steal what they can from these residents who have pretty much lost everything

If the beautiful beachfront homes are the residents' primary residences, why aren't they there defending their property from looters?

[ArrogantBustard]

hy aren't they there defending their property from looters?

Are they permitted such action in the Connecticut Soviet Socialist Republic?

[from occupied ga]

If the beautiful beachfront homes are the residents' primary residences, why aren't they there defending their property from looters?

Because if it's like other areas after natural disasters hit, the "authorities" are probably keeping them from returning to their homes until it's "safe." (or until the looters have had a chance to pick over everything)

[mbynack]

If the beautiful beachfront homes are the residents' primary residences, why aren't they there defending their property from looters?

Because the police force you to leave before the storm and then won't let you back in until they've got all the power lines fixed and checked for gas leaks.

[Celerity]

Police called a mandatory evacuation of beach front properties. At last call, my friend was not able to get back to her neighborhood yesterday - 36 hours after landfall.

I’m still struggling to come up with a legal and appropriate response when police tell me to leave my home. I won’t do it. No way, no how. I even sat around with the lights off and the car parked down the street to avoid the conflict.

[RonF]

If the beautiful beachfront homes are the residents' primary residences, why aren't they there defending their property from looters?

Because the authorities probably requested/advised/ordered them to evaculate. With justification - you don't want to be in a beachfront home when there's a hurricane on it's way with a possible 8 foot storm surge.