If you choose to 'Ride out the Storm' as a few often do, You'd better hide in your closet until the cops clear out of your neighborhood. Otherwise, they will yell at you with a bull horn and shuffle you onto a bus headed for a shelter.
It sounds oppressive, but they don't want to be responsible for your gamble with your life. They don't need you and your car in the way after a storm with gas leaking and power lines down. They don't want to have to cart your azz or children's to the hospital or morgue. And, in many cases, they don't want idle hands around searching to loot.
And who coordinates this pre storm event? THE STATE & LOCAL OFFICIALS!!!!!!!