IF you are sheltering in place in the cold winter, during a power outage, IF it isn't way too cold outside, you can frequently "babysit" the water pipes in your house -- by making sure that all faucets in the house are drip-drip-dripping.
But if you have to evacuate your home, and it is freezing cold outside, then ... I would shut off the water main to the house, and leave the faucets slightly open to drain out -- EMPTY water pipes will not break, as there is no water to freeze & expand within them.
Depending upon how long you expect to be gone, and depending on how cold the outside temp is, you may need to empty out the hot water heater, too -- I can't remember all the rules about leaving an empty house in the middle of winter.
Like you, I'll have to research further.
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