There are multiple reports that people fired upon rescue coptors and motor vehicles in at least two areas in the city. Besides firing on rescue copters, medical facilities set up for emergency care were looted and doctors and nurses assaulted. The Red Cross, which has been ready to move in since August 31, have not been moved into the area because their safety cannot be guaranteed.


CNN:
New Orleans' Charity Hospital halted efforts to evacuate its patients after it came under sniper fire, according to Dr. Tyler Curiel, who witnessed the incidents.

The attack came as New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued "a desperate SOS" for the thousands of people stranded in an around the city's convention center with no food or water and fading hope.

Curiel and his National Guard escorts, were returning to the hospital after dropping off patients at nearby Tulane Medical Center, when someone started shooting at their convoy of Humvees.

"We were coming in from a parking deck at Tulane Medical Center, and a guy in a white shirt started firing at us," Curiel said. "The National Guard (troops), wearing flak jackets, tried to get a bead on this guy."
and

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5043009.html

And sadly, a gang of six looters shot at police who were trying to control the situation. This caused the loss of lives of 3 of the shooters, a severe injury, and the arrest of another.

I don't know about the cannibalism because I haven't heard that, but I am not sure I would be surprised. People turn to cannibalism when it's a matter of survival, and goodness knows there were enough dead bodies. I wouldn't be surprised about rape and murder considering the total lack of security in the Superdome, though I haven't heard specific stories yet.

This is crazy to me because, in Thailand, after the tsunami hit, there was little to no looting. People were just concerned about finding their families and getting the hell out of the area to gather themselves enough to come back and rebuild. Southern Thailand, consisting mostly of small fishing villages and local businesses, are pretty much as poor as they come. Why such the stark difference in response by the victims? It boggles my mind and worries me a great deal.