One more contributing factor that everyone seems to have forgotten:

[Wordie]

The WEATHER! ...and by that I mean temperature/humidity. My understanding is that the temps were in the 100s at the time of the flooding.

Many of those who have never lived in that part of the country have no idea what it is like (see heat index below) and would probably consider it to be unlivable. Although it's possible to become used to it over time, air conditioning is considered the sort of necessity that heating is in most of the rest of the country. Once the power went out, there was no relief from the temps at all, and no water either. Maybe the looting and other problems had weather as a root cause, as the physiological stress effects of the weather combined with the psychological stress of the situation simply overcame people.

From http://www.ehrs.columbia.edu/HeatStress.html
<snip>
The problems resulting from this situation can range from being uncomfortable to death.  With so much blood being pumped to the skin it is hard for the body to maintain its normal functions. INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE AND PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT PROMOTE IRRITABILITY, ANGER, AND OTHER EMOTIONAL STATES (emphasis mine), that can cause workers to bypass safety procedures or to lose concentration while performing hazardous job functions.

From: http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/life/heat.htm
<snip>
The Heat Index
In the United States forecasters use the...Heat Index, as their accepted measure of thermal discomfort. ...Strong sunshine can increase the Heat Index value by up to 15 F. And when the air is very hot, strong winds can actually increase the body temperature rather than cool it.

The relationship between the Heat Index and heat disorders can be summarized as:

Heat Index/Health Effects
80 - 90 °F/Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
90 -105 °F/Heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
105 -130 °F/Heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely and heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
130 °F or higher/Heatstroke highly likely with continued exposure.

[jobycom]

1. Good points. Temperature does increase violent and irrational crime

[Wordie]

2. People suffer in that weather even when they HAVEN'T lost everything nt

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. I live on the Gulf Coast

and if we lost our AC for very long I'd have to head north. It is easier to be cold than survive a full summer in this heat.

I don't know how the Florida pioneers did it, in long sleeved dresses, working the land and doing the work that went with survival. Tough folks.

[Wordie]

6. I think it's hotter now than it was at the time of the pioneeers. AND I so

agree about not being able to live without AC. People can die so easily in that weather.

Here's a bit more:
From http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/life/heat.htm
<snip>
Dehydration depletes the body of water needed for sweating and thickens the blood, requiring more pressure to pump it through the body, thus straining the heart and bllod vessels. In addition, the increased heart rate and blood flow may harm or kill those with heart or circulatory diseases. Research on the effects of heat and humidity on humans has shown the severity of heat disorders increases with age. Conditions which cause heat cramps in a 16-year old may cause heat exhaustion in a 40-year old and heat stroke in someone over 60.

There was no AC in either of the Shelters of Last Resort in NO.

[ellenfl]

4. as someone who suffers mightily in the heat,

i fully understood the conditions under which the people left in no suffered. extreme heat requires constant rehydraton - potable water - which, of course, was in short supply in the week following the hurricane. i can also understand wading in the toxic, but hopefully cooling, waters in spite of the dangers.

ellen fl

[zann725]

5. Exactly. THAT, plus NO water for days. The elderly and babies and sick

alone would've died in large numbers in the first 2-3 days. The officials are GROSSLY under-estimating the numbers of dead, I'm certain.

This goes beyond "negligent homicide," to "genocide." We need to DEMAND the TRUE numbers of dead. NO mass graves. Investigation, investigation, investigation. If our own officials won't do it...Internal intervation PLEASE!

[Wordie]

7. Yep! INVESTIGATE why no water and generators to get the AC back on. nt