We form governments from among ourselves to provide for the Common Defense.
In cases like this, residents would want police and other Common Defense (read fire, power, etc.) to be able to be back in these areas before letting other citizens because the "other citizens" just might be looters.
It takes time to clear roads of power lines, trees, bodies, etc.
Yea, and guess what? There is looting going on anyway, so the government has failed.
This is precisely my point. If the people had stayed, they could have protected their own property.
How is it that the looters can get in there without getting killed, but the law abiding citizens who obey the authorities are the ones who get screwed?