Lives have to be saved, but taking a strong stance on crime from the outset would have minimized the problem. Now many more resources have to be dedicated to the problem or otherwise innocent victims will be hurt or killed.
In 1989, then-Chief Reuben Greenberg put Charlestonians on notice after Hugo that looters would be beaten and left, and gave the citizenry carte blanche to do the same when they encountered looters. National Guardsmen rode shotgun with every cop. Incidents of looting were very few and far between.
The radio forum they got this message from said the situation at Tulane is Code 4. And then, at the next couple of posts they say it's still going on.
(code 4 is radio speak for situation under control)