Looters take advantage of New Orleans' flooding (It is a Free for All)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 08/29/2005 | Associated Press

[LM_Guy]

NEW ORLEANS — With much of the city flooded by Hurricane Katrina, looters floated garbage cans filled with clothing and jewelry down the street in a dash to grab what they could.

In some cases, looting today took place in full view of police and National Guard troops.

At a Walgreen's drug store in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.

When police finally showed up, a young boy stood in the door screaming, "86! 86!" — the radio code for police — and the crowd scattered.

Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement.

"It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not."

Around the corner on Canal Street, the main thoroughfare in the central business district, people sloshed headlong through hip-deep water as looters ripped open the steel gates on the front of several clothing and jewelry stores.

One man, who had about 10 pairs of jeans draped over his left arm, was asked if he was salvaging things from his store.

"No," the man shouted, "that's EVERYBODY'S store."

Looters filled industrial-sized garbage cans with clothing and jewelry and floated them down the street on bits of plywood and insulation as National Guard lumbered by.

Mike Franklin stood on the trolley tracks and watched the spectacle unfold.

"To be honest with you, people who are oppressed all their lives, man, it's an opportunity to get back at society," he said.

A man walked down Canal Street with a pallet of food on his head. His wife, who refused to give her name, insisted they weren't stealing from the nearby Winn-Dixie supermarket. "It's about survival....

[dfwgator]

However, it has its share of criminal and low life elements like Detroit.

Same goes for my hometown of Dallas, or any other metropolitan area, (ok, maybe not Salt Lake City).

[Feiny]

Hey, I am not condoning looting but if I were stuck in the flooded town with no supplies....I would take what I needed for survival. Of course, I would also leave a note with a list of what I took and go back after the danger had passed to pay for what I took.

[Texas_Conservative2]

water water everywhere... but only beer to drink :)

[JLAGRAYFOX]

I know Dallas very well, and while it has some really bad apples, it does not compare to New Orleans and Detroit. The cabbies in N.O. tell you not to stray from the French Quarter after dark. I will admit, though, Dallas has some real Democrat Criminal Scum in their city council. Liberalism at its finest!!!

[bobdsmith]

If you haven't stockpiled already your first thought might be to do so ASAP before other people run the local stores dry.

If the water is also rising that might be another reason to loot for food now rather than later.

[T.Smith]

"Shelters which I betcha are underwater."

A shelter, by definition, is a dry place staffed by Red Cross workers. If it is under water, then it is not a shelter. Don't act like there is no help available for these people.

[longtermmemmory]

that complies with the LEGAL concept of necesity. You take what you must in an emergency but you are RESPONSIBLE for compensation.

Does anyone know how many days of supplies people were told to have.

[Truthsayer20]

The National Guard should open fire on the looters. I'm sure the looting would stop at that instant.

[Shqipo]

This social parasite isn't satisfied with the millions of hard earned tax dollars that are spent on his welfare checks, Medicaid, food stamps, defense attorneys... In his communities darkest hour, he wants to suck even more out of his neighbors, and appears happy and with no shame in doing it.
I hope if one of our NG helicopters need to rescue this guy later, they throw him back as unworthy of the effort and save us all some dime.

[Betis70]

Where is Quatto though?

[longtermmemmory]

isn't that AM station that survived telling people where the water and ice centers are for distribution?

am I missing something? are there certian "country club" shelters and other "pedestrian" shelters?

[Alberta's Child]

That guy might be a looter, but damn -- I wish I had hair like that!

[Kokojmudd]

Superdome Vendors Remain Optimistic and On the Job Despite Weather!
"Colllld Beeeer! Peanuts! Colllld Beeer!!!!"

[metesky]

Wisht I had one o' them thar shoot guns, you betcha!

[goldstategop]

To be fair, some of the DU posters condemned him and pointed out many business owners aren't exactly wealthy and they're middle class and even the struggling poor. As a looter, you're still stealin' another person's livelihood. Yeah - if it was MY business being looted, I'd shoot them on sight. They have no idea how it is to work hard to make a living. Whatever their problems, it doesn't give them the right to take the fruits of an honest man's work. Society's rules have to count for something or none of us is safe.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Alberta's Child]

I've noticed that looters who steal electronics and jewelry are trim, while those who steal food have @sses that are wider than tractor-trailers.

[NormsRevenge]

He kind of looks like Randy Moss if he combed his hair back. :}

[trubluolyguy]

Shoot guns?


shoot guns.



As opposed to UNshoot guns.

[Leatherneck_MT]

"I told a FReeper earlier that N.O. was effectively destroyed. I re-thought that as being a little too much hyperbole... but now I'm not sure. How do they recover from this???"

Easy

2 Ways

1. Your Tax dollars

2. Increase in your insurance premiums

[Leatherneck_MT]

In real Cajun venacular its...

twice barrel shoot gun

:)