SNIP>
>I agree that the tv shots were confusing. But a more organized distribution of supermarket articles would've been a better solution than cops saying 'go ahead'.

NOTHING can be "organized" in New Orleans at this time. Nothing!
There is no communication even between police units. No electricity and batteries have run dry.

You have to throw any conventional thought about this out the window. These people can't even flush their toilets! Imagine what things are like by now for that reason alone, not to mention sewer backups generally, dead bodies floating about, gas from cars and oil from home tanks and refineries all mixing in, fish and gators in the water, etc., etc.

People will lose whatever calm they might have very quickly in conditions like this. They see an impossible situation that is only getting worse and they see their loved ones suffering and have no way to do anything about it.

New Orleans is essentially a laboratory now for all things "social" and most things physical. And it isn't going to be pretty. But there simply is no precedent for something like this on this scale so everyone involved is learning as they go along. When thousands and thousands are ALL tired and worried and hungry and hot and in maximum discomfort and unable to pee/crap in peace and homeless and penniless we can expect only the unexpected.