Last time I looked, there were eight points on the compass, and west, across this bridge, was merely one of them. Can't walk west, start walking in another direction.
As for the looting, if transportation was an issue, why weren't people stealing bicycles or cars off dealer's lots for the express purpose of getting out? I'm sure some did (and good for them!) but from what we've seen, the high-priority items were guns, home electronics and jewelry. Now you tell me, are people engaged in that kind of activity worried about getting out/being rescued or are they attempting to take advantage of a situation only to have it blow up in their faces?
Any way you slice it, this was merely another example of people too stupid to pour piss out of a boot, with instructions of the heel.
Now lay your compass down on a map of New Orleas. It's flooded to the north, east and west by the breach - with toxic water. This bridge was the only way I know of out of the city to dry ground - to the SE from downtown across the river.
Try again.
Have you actually looked at a map of New Orleans? North is the lake. South is the river.There's flooding east and west.