I really think you are misreading what people are saying.
I doubt anyone on this forum thinks that the helpless people - however they have been rendered helpless - should starve or thirst to death. The various levels of government have exhibited varying levels of incompetence bordering on the criminal - esp. the state and local levels.
That said, it is true that some of the people suffering in NO should have and still could have helped themselves just a little tiny bit more.
Especially the able bodied men and able bodied women who don't have little children or elderly to care for. How many of the able bodied people are trying to help themselves and their neighbors, how many are just complaining, and how many are actively preying on others?
I've seen pictures of predators stealing cars and filling them with stolen loot. Maybe their carjacking skills could have been used trying to start some schoolbuses (or other cars) and trying to save the elderly or other helpless people and take them to shelter. They could have gone up to LEO and offered to assist, they could find where dropped water (yes, water has been dropped) and ferry it to dehydrated children.
Naturally all those helpful acts would be difficult. But I can see from the pictures that some able bodied men - and some women - have been putting a lot of energy into criminal acts.
Understatement.