[Smokin' Joe]

I think he was a man in pure panic mode lashing out and not thinking clearly.

I don't know him so I can't say. I have seen a host of different reactions to overwhelming stress, and this seems like the 'fall back on the rules and standard disaster procedures' one. Not the 'deer in the headlights' reaction which may have led to numb agreement rather than the re-assertion of the pecking order.

In the latter case, a reprimand would have been second nature. Someone, ideally should be in command to organize rescue and evacuation, and the comment about authorization, which may seem inappropriate to some in extremis was such an assertion that he was in control.

That authority may be limited to prevent a disgruntled employee from pulling the 'fire alarm'.

Her actions seem appropriate in a world where anyone calls 911, but this is a vessel at sea, and the Captain is the guy who makes the call or delegates the duty to someone else. Different rules.

[The Cajun]

Well I suppose sooner or later we will get some incite as to how this guy was operating and the decisions he made when it hit the fan.
I know this is very small potatoes with everything that has happened and is happening, but it riled me up (coon-asses tend to get riled up easily) ;^)