Looting or Salvaging?

[peachgirl]

Just wondering (I tried to google it but no help), how long can an infant go without food? 48 hours seems a long time to me.

It's my understanding that you can go several weeks without food...not long without water and I'm sure babies less than adults.

The point is, this looting only started after the levee's were breeched and that was only late last night and it was when police manpower was down to next to nothing and it was difficult to get in where they needed to be.

These people saw opportunity and they took it. The looting is almost all confined to one area of the French Quarter...are they the only ones who have babies that need formula?

What about Alabama and Mississippi? The looting there has been next to nothing.

I wish it were a matter of people stealing in order to survive, but clearly since officials are commandeering supplies, there are other options for them.

 

[maleficent1959]

Yes, it is everyone's misfortune. Especially those still waiting to be rescued. How much manpower should we waste trying to stop looting and how many more will die because they were not rescued in time? Should we just let them continue? Jail will not stop people. They may look on it as a way out of the disaster area. (who knows???) If they don't use force to stop the looters, they shouldn't even bring attention to it. It does no good. So much area, limited resources at this point, there are some tough choices to make.

From what I've read, no one is stopping the looting. All efforts are focused on search and rescue, as they should be. Once more troops are in place then they will have the manpower to give attention to less urgent matters.

I will say, I'd rather see more video of people being saved. Some good bits would be nice to see amidst all of the grim news.

 

[jrydberg]

Just wondering (I tried to google it but no help), how long can an infant go without food? 48 hours seems a long time to me.

More like 48 days. Water is another matter.

 

[maleficent1959]

These people saw opportunity and they took it. The looting is almost all confined to one area of the French Quarter...are they the only ones who have babies that need formula?

Everyone knows you only get the best formula in the French Quarter.

 

[maleficent1959]

wrong paragraph....I heard walgreens and assumed reference was to this.

try this one:

I saw that too. Why do you continue to think that I need a primer about the definition of looting and commandeering?

 

[disneymom3]

At least here they didn't have supplies for people in the shelters until relief actually got here. Then yes, they will be able to go to sites around the city and get the things they need..

But the relief came pretty darn quick. I am not discounting how awful it would be to be there, but I am also not buying that these people didn't even have one days worth of necessities on hand. (Not saying you are claiming that Mal.)

 

[va32h]

Another reason to breastfeed: in the event of a devastating hurricane, you will not have to loot drugstores for formula.

Just trying to inject a little levity here.

No, my heart is not warmed by video of a bunch of kids helping themselves to the contents of a Footlocker store. But I imagine that even if you are perfectly willing and able to pay for your purchases, that isn't exactly possible, is it?

No matter who is stealing what, I cannot agree with the idea that the should just be shot on sight.

 

[maleficent1959]

But the relief came pretty darn quick. I am not discounting how awful it would be to be there, but I am also not buying that these people didn't even have one days worth of necessities on hand. (Not saying you are claiming that Mal.)

You're right. It was pretty quick. Again, props to the military and the Red Cross. And yes, lots of those folks are taking advantage. But not everyone is. And some may be genuinely panicked.

Newest reports are that even the shelters are now being evacuated, and the governor has a plan to evacuate all the people remaining in the city. So soon this discussion will be moot anyway.

In a perverse way maybe the looting shows some optimism on the part of the residents that they will eventually have the electricity to power the plasma TVs and DVD players.

 

[Kitty 34]

Looting in a riot is terrible (I remember the 60's ); looting for survival purposes I think is different.

I haven't read all the posts here but maybe many of these "looters" DID have provisions for several days or weeks and they've been destroyed. We just don't know.

Stealing TVs and electronic things?? Man I don't know why they would waste their strength and time on those items but I'm sitting up here in my quiet little Michigan community with dinner cooking and a nice bed to sleep in later....I just can't fathom what's going thru those peoples' heads. : GOD bless them anyway.

 

[eclectics]

If people are taking diamond jewelry, it's looting. If they are taking perishable food and bottled water to survive, let them take it. I can't even imagine what those folks are going through down there!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I saw that too. Why do you continue to think that I need a primer about the definition of looting and commandeering?

I don't---I misunderstood your reference in that post--and when you replied...I realized the disconnect. I simply was providing the link I was talking about.

No need to get defensive and read more in the post that is there.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well---evacuation orders are in place--so it looks like the free for all for wares will be all for not.

 

[Free4Life11]

Seems to me like looting a 24 pack of Cottonelle while:
(a) The entire city is flooding,
(b) Your toilet is likely underwater,
(c) There is no water so even if your toilet wasn't underwater it wouldn't work, and
(d) You may be without food/water for days...
...is just about the DUMBEST thing you could do!

I think we are dealing with some "not so bright" people here when it comes to the looters. Remember, these people decided not to go to the Superdome or any of the other shelters....

And since when is Cottonelle a necessity? I'm pretty sure you could survive without toilet paper, considering people did it for thousands of years. Anyways if you aren't eating much food, and likely very little fiber, you wouldn't have much a of a need for TP as it is...if you get my drift....

As far as infants go, do you have to breastfeed from the get go? Or if you start with forumla are you ever able to breastfeed....I honestly have no clue "how it works." I read somewhere that if you DON'T breastfeed, it can be very painful....?? I've never quite understood why people in poverty wouldn't breastfeed...I know my mom did and it seems like a good way to save money.

I do not think looters should be shot, nor do I think a lot of manpower should be spent rounding them up, but it happened so soon that I just can't condone it. Survival mode? These people were stealing pop and potato chips mere hours after the wind and rain was gone...Have these people even TRIED to get help?

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Okay I saw this footage too and I couldn't figure out either. I finally concluded he was using the package of cottonelle to assist in case he needed a floatation device...if it wasn't watertight it wouldn't be useful for any purpose. I didn't see any footage of him STEALING the tp.

Looting... okay if I were in that situation and there was a sporting goods store accessible you betcha I'd break it to it if I could to see if I could find some sort of raftlike device, life jackets, clean water, canned food & fire products...but only if I thought I'd be there for a while. But for the people in the areas where the news crews could spot them at street level...they were obviously engaging in criminal behaviour (except TP Guy!). In fact the looting is an explanation into why people choose not to leave...if you are in your house maybe people won't break into it (maybe). But there is no point in shooting at them...today...there are people to be rescued from their homes and rooftops. They are evacuating the prisoners they already have in because the prison was underwater...they were taking them off the roof in boats and sitting them down on the road.

 

[Free4Life11]

I didn't either but the news was playing it with the loop of looting they were playing, so I could only assume it was. I can't imagine a package of toilet paper would be a useful flotation device, but who knows.

 

[Keli]

IMHO, These people are looting because they are criminals and they have no problems with stealing what doesn't belong to them. I don't think they are doing it for survival but if they were then you'll see them keeping a careful tab of everything they got and contacting the companies they stole from when this is over and offering the money they owe. Betcha' won't see too many of them doing that.

 

[charlie,nj]

Ha ha ha ..and did you see all of the smashed ATM machines in the looted stores?...I heard the looters just wanted to take the money for safe keeping…come to think of it I think the footage was actually shot before Katrina hit…I guess the “looters” were just getting prepared for the Katrina.. loading up on TP and cash.





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[miss missy]

If I owned a store there I would hope people could use what I had there! I do not care if they take a darn soda or bleach or food! At this point, they can have what they need! I mean, its easy for us to say what we would of wouldn't do from our cozy homes. But people are going through he&& there!

There will always be people who take advantage of the situation, but that is the minority. I believe in giving to your brother... and in this case, they can HAVE IT!

 

[LisaNJ25]

Thet TP guy doesnt bother me. Everybody will need to use it sometime or another. Hopefully he shared.

Its the ones stealing electronics and jewelry that get me. Where the heck are they going to bring these big item?

 

[maleficent1959]

I don't---I misunderstood your reference in that post--and when you replied...I realized the disconnect. I simply was providing the link I was talking about.

No need to get defensive and read more in the post that is there.

I didn't mean to sound snappish. I had a 2YO looting my pantry so I had to go in and commandeer some supplies for the greater good of the family. And while I didn't shoot him, I did give him a strong talking to. Maybe next time he'll eat his lunch and be better prepared for the afternoon munchies