Looting is illegal. Period. And I firmly hold my belief that they deserve an arrest, whether it be for "survival" or money. A massive tragedy with 11k homes destroyed is NOT the time to start making the situation, and money loss, worse.
@Jester I live in New Orleans, i have had my car stolen twice. And my home broken into when i lived in Minneapolis. Does that make my opinion valid enough?
Shi, For the people living in poverty this tragedy is their everyday life. Of course they are going to do something to try to survive one more day. Don't act like the people evacuating aren't using the same logic. Who would let themselves just sit there and die when there is a chance to live one more day? If your situation changed and you had to steal to survive I would still advocate for you to live, even if I dislike you or disagree with your methods.