In Katrina and Rita shelters were opened where there were people in need. Whether supplies could readily reach them was a problem to be solved, not a requirement for shelter location. You are not understanding the widespread nature of these disasters. It was easier to solve the supply problem than the rescue problem.
A supply truck or helicopter with supplies can make it in once a day. The multiple vehicles, trucks or helicopters, to evacuate people were not available. Your "hypothetical" versus others "real world" experience is misleading you. Rud Merriam K5RUD ARES AEC Montgomery County, TX http://TheHamNetwork.net Your first paragraph indicates that the shelter was so remote and isolated that it required helicopter delivery of food and water. Yet you also indicate that you were in your truck which indicates you could drive to the shelter. Maybe you were driving a monster truck? Some of this appears to be an appeal to emotion. I HAVE been around long enough to know neither the ARC or SA would open a shelter in a location that was not reachable by regular supply vehicles nor that had SOME kind of communications. I am pretty sure that the government authorities would not authorize this either. To do otherwise is simply asking for the shelter staff to require 'rescuing' at some time in the future thereby adding to the problem. Consequently, when you say no communications, you are overstating the facts. Now maybe, a runner in a vehicle may the only means of communication, but never the less, it is communications. Jim WA0LYK