By "not problematic", in the context "self-deploy to a disaster zone" I was referring to the impact well-meaning disaster tourists can have on impacted area, placing additional burdens on law enforcement, ems, fire, search & rescue, food supplies, housing, and all that good stuff.
It is a practice discouraged by most disaster management professionals.
If Rob wants to peacefully protest locally, he won't be making a bad situation worse in the impacted area.