looting

I've read a few articles about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The entire situation is just horrible...the loss of life, the terror of trying to escape floods, the dead floating around while rescuers try to reach the hundreds or thousands still clinging to their rooftops. And then, I came to the description of looting. Some people are filling trash bags with goods from all sorts of exposed stores and carrying it off in the plain light of day without a care in the world. The article said that one man with ten or so blue jeans draped over his arm was asked if he was salvaging them from his own store. He shouted in reply, "No! That's EVERYBODY'S store." I am at a loss to understand how anyone could take goods from broken stores and homes in the midst of all this human suffering without being utterly disgusted with themselves. Somehow it isn't seen as stealing in their eyes (or if it is, then they don't care anyway) but more like a finders keepers deal. Apparently, taking goods that are accessible because of a natural disaster is easily rationalized. Instead of devoting their time to helping, they are consumed with plundering and satisfying their greediness. That makes me absolutely sick.