Bear is right, tread carefully. When Hurricane Irene and TS Lee destroyed parts of Northern NJ, lots of stuff went on lawns with people waiting for insurance adjusters to come by and look it over. Also think about what those people are feeling as you go through their stuff. Still on the lawn means it is still theirs. Around here scrappers were looked upon as vultures during that time.
Talk to the owners and see if they are waiting for insurance or throwing it out. Then offer to take everything as a way of helping them through the disaster. Don't pick through it right then and there, take it all.
Just my opinion.
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