Frankly, the looting is the least of New Orlean's problems. Looting is so trivial to the real devastation that is going on. I really don't understand why looting is such a big issue to so many Freepers. Those people are really too obsessed with the looting when their attention should be focused on what needs to be done to help these people. Looting is chump change in the big picture.
As far as the looting goes; Just where are they going to take the stolen goods??
In the Rodney King riots, the LAPD backed off in those first crucial hours and a n easily controlled situation flared up into a disaster. But in some of those other small cities embedded in LA, the police immediately jumped on troublemakers as soon they did something. As a result, they'd had only a fraction of the problems that LA had.
You can't have decent rescue or recovery operations in an atmosphere of chaos. That's why maintaining a semblance of order is job one in a disaster. Lose that veneer of civilization and a disaster turns into something ten times worse.
Yeah, food especially. It's considered trash after being flooded. The other items are going underwater. With the exception of item such as jewelry, etc. most things will be considered trash after submersion.
If they've turned from looters into bands of killing marauders...there's a huge difference. If they start going into areas where there are people & taking possessions, raping & kidnapped, the looters should, indeed, be SHOT DEAD. Same goes for prisoners trying to escape. New Orleans is now a war-zone, not even as safe as Baghdad.
I lived thru the LA riots and the looting is scary. It is gang members run amok.