What I'm not ignoring is that many people in this thread are condemning all looters without considering that many of them are doing so for what they perceive to be survival purposes. Anybody that is stealing tv sets and jewelry now is a bad person. I have no sympathy for these people. Do I think that any attention should be paid to them right now - No! Worrying about looting right now would only take the limited resources needed to save lives. An earlier post made this argument perfectly.
It's a little late in the game to start with - they made their bed, now they can lie in it. Are you really advocating just letting these people die? In the US we have a long history of helping people that don't necessarily deserve it. We do so because we care about the person and find value in the human lives that is not dependent upon what type of person they are or what past choices they have made.
I am only talking about the people that are looting for food and toilet paper (there are some things that are just as important as a good man sandwich).
By condoning their behaviour now, you are ensuring that in the next disaster these same people will fail to evacuate. By allowing them to behave in this manner, you are creating more danger in the future for them.
I'm not worry about the people who steal food or water to survive. I probably would have done the same.
On the other hand, stealing an electric shaver will indicate either extreme stupidity or pure malice. Not only the looter will never use his electric shaver before it becomes useless due to salt, silt and humidity, he will also be wasting valuable time and energy trying to protect his loot from fellow looters.
Looting nonessential items is utter irrational behavior at this time. There is a mandatory evacuation is in place, because levees are precariously holding back a lake full of dirty water.