Well, although I would agree in a perfect world, it might not be necessay, but since the injured would demand medical services, and the dead would have to be buried (most likely at public expense) it quickly becomes a PUBLIC issue.
Its fine to say people should be allowed to make their own decision, but that presumes people are smart enough to do so, and resolute enough to live by their decision and not bring suit the minute a fireman or ambulance doesn't show up.
Those who feel like you are free to baricade themselves in their home. The Police will not expend any resources extracting them.
andrew is officially a cat 5 storm.
latest SHIPS intensity model takes katrina to 162 mph