So, the police should check all bags to see if they've looted video games or milk? No, you really cannot allow any of it. I survived hurricane Betsy in 1965, and I didn't loot, and neither did my neighbors. We did, however, fear the roving gangs (not all of them even local--they came in from miles around to get in on the looting) of looters who would go into homes and take what they wanted, food, goods, or people (a neighbor was raped).
I realize the scope of Hurrican Andrew was smaller than this, but still... ya know how we prevented armed gangs from taking over? Everywhere you looked, there were hand painted signs "Looters will be KILLED", and guess what, a couple of them were shot to death, one at point blank range, in the face, the guy had powder burns on his face. It made the news. My neighbor loaned me his 9mm for a few months.. it was known that in Homestead florida, people down there were a little bit red-necky, and would not hesitate to shoot. Every block was its own "armed gang" to counter anyone who came in looking for loot. It was Robert Heinlein's fantasy world, and the good guys won.
I heard last night, there had been rapes
in the SuperDome.