It is disheartening to see widespread looting and lawlessness in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. It’s a graphic reminder of the thin line separating civil and animal behavior.

It is nothing short of tragic that police officers engaged in saving lives now must be diverted to restoring order. And it is frightening that we have, apparently, become too delicate to restore order by dealing swiftly with the vultures who emerge in the wake of any natural disaster to prey upon the unfortunate.

In one case reported Wednesday, a family returned to their damaged home to find it looted of everything – clothing, furniture and appliances.

Even when looters have been arrested, police have simply made them return their booty and turned them loose. Arresting and holding suspects in the immobilized city is impractical.

But quickly establishing civil authority in the wake of a disaster is essential, even if it involves announcing that police will shoot looters to stop them. That’s harsh, but the alternative is worse.

Already, cleanup and emergency crews are beginning to fear for their safety, and news organizations have had to provide their own security forces to continuing covering the disaster. There was even a report Thursday morning of shots fired at a rescue helicopter.

The continuing disorder, if left unchecked, could dissolve into clashes between citizens trying to protect their property and criminals intent on exploiting the disaster. It will certainly compound the massive task of cleaning up and recovering bodies. It will generate intense pressure for the thousands who left the city to return, if only to protect their belongings. And, finally, continued chaos will shatter whatever confidence people have in civil authority, leading to even more lawlessness.

In the long run, the days of unchecked looting in New Orleans will encourage people facing other hurricanes to buy firearms and remain with their homes and businesses rather than heed evacuation orders.

Wednesday evening, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin announced that police would now be shifted from rescue operations to restoring law and order. National Guard troops are pouring into the city to assist them and guard property.

But they will have to act quickly and firmly to quell the lawlessness.