Interestingly, the old B&W movie w/ Charles Laughton highlights his motivation - that he was the offspring of a gypsy and a convict, and his self respect and self image are completely bound up in the absolute enforcement of the letter of the law - justice without mercy.
Of course, in a natural disaster, justice w/o mercy is probably what's needed, at least in the first few days. It's too hard, especially in the absence of enough effective law enforcement, to tell the "scavengers" from the "looters". Better to get to the shelter and get a couple of MREs than get shot hooking a couple jars of peanut butter out of somebody's general store.
"It's too hard, especially in the absence of enough effective law enforcement, to tell the "scavengers" from the "looters".
Thats because there is no difference between the two.