Risk management decision.
If he issues the order and no disaster hits half the coast, he looks like he overreacted, but reasonably, on the side of caution.
If he fails to issue the order and a disaster does happen, he looks a million times worse.
Given that we don’t know right now, and things could go either way, it is probably the right choice.
As in what happened with Harvey.
It was really strange....the Gov (Abbott) came to Houston (before) and warned folks to evacuate, immediately.
The Mayor and County Judge said there was no need to evacuate....that evacuating could/would be more dangerous.
After Harvey's devastation and loss of life, the County Judge and Mayor looked 'a million times worse'. They should've erred on the side of caution.
He could have just left it a voluntary evacuation down in southern sections ...people are free to leave anytime they wish,,..
also the next time a more direct threat approaches, less people will take it seriously and stay