I wonder if/when a "state of emergency" is declared in an area for the State, that gives them the ability to halt certain activities that might interfere with what the State authorities/officials are attempting to do in some sort of orderly ( safer ) fashion.
Which, Sunday, as you mentioned, wasnt the time to be worried about "Being in charge of coordinating" - but i can understand from the person in charge of coordinating response.
IF they drop them off at another location, now the Chief might be allocating resources to those very people who are no longer in need, but the Chief has no idea. Wasting time and resources when they were already down the mountain.