"People are looting groceries and other stores and then swimming back to where they came from. Freaking unbelieveable."
It's difficult to excuse such a thing but I will say this. If my family was stuck in a situation like this, I would probably consider looting the local market myself - if I believed our survival depended on it.
Now if they're looting non-survival related items then they should be arrested or shot.
I agree, Trampled. If my family was hungry or cold, I would certainly break into a store to feed or clothe them. But when the worst past, I would make amends to the store and pay for what I took.
If they are looting groceries (food,water) because of desperation then that I can understand. I don't condone it but I understand it. The groceries would probably be destroyed anyway since I doubt it would be lawful to sell food items from a flood ravaged store.
If they are using the flood as an excuse to "get paid" by stealing unneccessary material goods, then they should be arrested and I wouldn't lose any sleep if they shot a few of those looters.
I've got to tend to agree.
I think of looting as a dry-land, out of power type of event.
This is a bit different is some cases. If the area of town is completely cut off by water, it's not like the store's inventory is not going to be written off.
It is a survival there right now until the water recede.
In areas where that's not the case then it's just plain theft in my eyes.