The street I lived on was all cooperation - but it didn't last long enough for anyone to go hungry. The emergency rooms were overflowing IF you could get there at all, and there was nowhere to get food or water. An emergency that only lasts a few days is VASTLY different than one that lasts a week or more.
I worked at the FEMA center for months after that. It was anything but civil. We had armed guards for very good reason, and I have never seen such filth in my life as from the people camped outside.
That sounds terrible. My experiences have been in the Midwest with admittedly Midwest sensibilities. What a difference. Or apparently so..
FEMA had, I think the number was 600 trucks with supplies in a very large area waiting for instructions on where to go. They had been there for several days when our top county executive (The top county executive is made a judge) walked in, called all the FEMA workers into a large meeting area, stepped up on a plastic chair and read them the riot act. The air was not turned just blue but ultraviolet blue. I believe he threatened to commandeer the trucks and throw them in jail if they did not get their rigs moving immediately.
The place emptied out and a few hours later the parking lot was empty. So...I am not too thrilled with FEMA either.