Ya know, far be it from me to defend looters, but I'm going to say a few words in their defense anyway.

I don't think many people understand their situation. The vast majority of people who didn't evacuate are poor as hell and didn't have the means to get out of town. They just had all of their possessions (except the clothes on their back) destroyed by the hurricane. They only have to look around them to see that the city is a disaster zone, and any help that comes will be spread pretty darn thin. Do you have any idea of how desparate that would make someone?

I lived in Gulfport for a year, and heard many stories about Camille. One of my friends told me how the looters were actually being shot at by Gulfport police, but kept on going through stores, some even after being shot. That's the level of desperation these people are feeling right now. They have absolutely nothing, so I think characterizing them as low-life's is going way too far. Drop yourself into their shoes and ask yourself what you would do, not knowing when any sort of aid would arrive, but knowing that you're damn cold, dirty and tired and have no food/clothes/money (or anything else). I think the stores can handle the looting better than these people can handle the lack of basic supplies.

The looters stealing food, diapers, etc. may be doing it out of desperation. How do you explain people stealing watches, electronics, beer, etc? There is absolutely no excuse for that.

Weasel, what would I do in their situation. I would probably turn to one of the dozens of organizations already in place and seek assistance.
There is no reason for anyone in those areas to go hungry or shelterless.

You are reaching here. Have you seen the pictures of looters -- many of them act like it's a big party. Many arrive by car and drive back to their homes with their stash.

You asked what I would do, and I told you. Believe it or not. Something tells me by your defensiveness we also know what YOU would do.

Criminals are criminals.

And I agree with stjohnbound. They go into homes and steal computers and TV's out of hunger and desperation? And guns and jewelry from a pawn shop? Give me a break.

What do they do with jewelry, etc.? Hello, it's called "sell them for cash". Not hard to figure out if you put an ounce of effort into it.

And yes Patrick, I've seen the pictures of people wading through waist-deep water carrying stuff out of stores. Many of them arrive by car and drive back to their homes? On what non-flooded street, and to what homes? The non-existent ones, or the ones full of waterlogged worthless trash? As for what you would do in that situation, I doubt you have any frame of reference but I'm sure you would be a shining pillar of morality when your children are hungry, your house is gone, and the nearest aid is a 5 mile walk through waist deep water. Of course, you'd just sit around waiting to be rescued and play tiddlywinks to pass the time.

Come on Weasel, on one of the news chaneels I saw people looting a liquor store....

Cash? What do they need cash for if they can just break into stores and take what they need, or want.

I'd be curious, Weasel, if you've ever been in a situation somewhat like this and what you did.

Yahoo!'s news pages are posting an AP report that the governor of LA is calling for a complete evacuation of New Orleans. Has anyone else seen or heard this?!

This is incredible, unthinkable. Now I'm really concerned about what's going to be left the next time I get back to Louisiana to see family...!

They were reporting that on the radio here in Chicago and are evacuating Tulane hospital and the Gov. just said that the Superdome needs to be evacuated ASAP-all 30,000 people!

Apparently ANOTHER levee broke and the water is rising very quickly.

As if this couldn't get any worse, another one breaking loose...God help all those people!

They said the NO is a "Non-Functioning" city and they are evacuating everyone.

What does this mean ??? Are they just closing the doors on NO???

CNN has been covering the Governor's news conference. She is, indeed, calling for the complete evacuation of the city.

From what I heard, the prediction of a "toxic cesspool" seems to be the reality. It's not just the water, it's the toxic chemicals in the water and in the air.

This is a tragedy that will take years of recovery.

Prayers for all !

Marion

This is getting more frightening by the hour. How are they going to get all those people out of the city?

Statia,

Yes, more frightening by the minute !

And when you add in that *grain of salt* that most of us do, when listening to a news conference, it becomes even more fightening. We are certainly not getting the full story.

How the evacuation was going to be accomplished was THE question. I do believe they truly don't know. May God help them to find a way.

Marion

If they can't get the levee's plugged the water will just keep pouring in. I havn't seen the news in the last few hours but this morning saw the levee at Lake Ponchatraine had been compromised. That lake is fed by the ocean and the water will just pour out of there till the levee can be repaired. I saw a documentary awhile back about the what if's if a hurricane hit New Orleans hard and so sad to say, all predictions have come true. Other than the fact the NO is below sea level, they have lost a huge amount of wet lands, and while this would not be their total salvation, wet lands act as a buffer between the sea and the land, and not having that buffer greatly increases their exposure. This is such a terrible thing, may God put his arms around that poor city.

I've been at work all day and away from the TV and internet. I just turned on CNN and my heart just sank. I was going to make my donation to the Red Cross after pay day, but now I'll do it today.

The Army Corps of Engineers is trying to figure out the best way to temorarily plug the breaks in the levees. That has to be done before they can do anything else.

FEMA is already acquiring temporary housing for the displaced people, but who knows where it will be?

On CNN James Carville, who comes from New Orleans and whose family has lost homes and been evacuated, etc. noted that the Gulf water is still warmer than usual and there are still eight weeks left in hurricane season.

Weasel, that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Disaster is a great equilizer and there are plenty of "rich" people in NO that are going to be completely bankrupted by this event. I think this will go down probably as the worst disaster in our history. So who are they going to sell the TV to? No one has a house, electricity, food, maybe just the clothes on their back and from the looks of some people being rescued the clothes on their back ain't much. Businesses can't open, goods can't be brought into the city, people of all persuasions have no income and those that are looting are also putting their own lives at risk and also risking the lives of others that have to rescue them. It's nuts and also wrong on any level.

I just heard a report that someone called from TOURO hospital & said there is water up to the 5th floor. For those who don't know, TOURO is on Prytania, 2 blocks off of St. Charles Avenue between Napolean and Louisiana - near Columns Hotel, Superior Grill. I cannot imagine this is true as I have not heard much else about Uptown, but I lived only 4 blocks from TOURO when I lived there. I am heartbroken.

As for the looters, I have no sympathy. MOST of these people are not taking food for daily living. They are taking all items to be the criminals they are.

I am leaving for my first trip to Europe tomorrow. I wish I could be happier. I know my family & friends are safe, so I will fly away and hopefully return to a little better news. I am just afraid that it will not be any better.

To the idiotic defense of those laughing and screaming, partying teenage hoodlums robbing and looting everything in sight, by claiming these people need to do that to feed their families and it is perfectly understandable and OK, I have only one thing to say. I was wrong. I said before "Looters are the most miserably low of all creatures."

I was wrong. Those who would defend those people are even lower!

Weasel, take a look at what you just said above. You cannot possibly believe it if you have even a shred of humanity or conscience. What part of "seeking help" if your family is homeless and starving do you not understand? Criminals turn to stealing. Honest people turn to others for help. Help is available.

But I know you are just trying to get me going. No decent human being could be so idiotic as to support that kind of looting. Good joke on me, huh, Weasel?