Crocodiles, Money, and Looting: Following Hurricane Karl

     Today I did a Google search on Hurricane Karl, expecting to find new information on deaths, damages, aid, ect. And while a few stories showed up estimating insured losses of the area, most of the stories are about the many endangered crocodiles that were freed by Karl. Of course, this story is important to protect the public, but I just thought it was funny that this story tended to take prevalence over that of the financial cost or that the president, Felipe Calderon, visited the disaster area. I guess in a way this relates to the idea that journalists are reporting on stories they think people want to hear, but I honestly don't understand why anyone would want to hear more about the crocodiles than the cost or what the president had to say.
     Moving on, as I previously mentioned, many reports are out that the insured losses are worth between 200 and 300 million dollars.  This figure makes me wonder how much uninsured damage was done to the area and what kind of aid will be available for Mexico.
     Another funny story I found was about Felipe Calderon, president of Mexico's, visit to the disaster site. This report claimed that he is  asking for clean water and food for the Veracruz area, but in the same report it mentions that people are "looting" in flooded places for food and alcohol. When does "looting" become an act of survival? If the president is asking for aid in the form of food and water, why does it matter if these people are taking those very provisions where they are available? Even if the looted stores are functional in the future, what are they going to do with all those goods anyway?  I just think it is a somewhat petty thing to worry about at the moment. I can see if it was alcohol or Ipods or jewelry because those things are not necessary for survival, and I am sure not everyone is out stealing alcohol and expensive luxury items. But then again, where is the line drawn between thievery and survival in disaster situations?

Links:
Insured Loss:
http://www.property-casualty.com/News/2010/9/Pages/AIR-Insured-Losses-From-Hurricane-Karl-Up-To-200M.aspx

President/ looter article:
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/americas/Calderon-Storm-Damaged-Veracruz-Needs-Help-VOA-News-103449904.html

One of many crocodile articles:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6818847-hurricane-karl-leaves-crocs-on-the-loose