yuppers , it appears the BIG talkin' point is, "folks didn't have the $$$$ to leave"
I had precisely this discussion with a co-worker. When I mentioned the mandatory order to evacuate, she said they had no cars. When I mentioned that they could take a bus she said they didn't have $2 for a bus. When I mentioned that friends or relatives could put them up and get them, she said they had no friends or relatives.
When I said that was unrealistic, she said I had no idea of what life was like in America. (BTW, she is an immigrant!)
I was thinking if I said they were told to bring food and water, she would have said they were to poor to have extra food. If I said water is free, she would have said they had no indoor plumbing!
All in all, trying to acquaint these people with the truth is only for the truly persistent!