So far my main inconvenience is living right off the two lane road that leads to a sandbag distribution point. The traffic getting to it, and my house, is horrendous. I came in to work at 7:30 am and it was already backed up half a mile past the turnout to my house. I'm working till noon and even though I only live 7 miles from work, that last mile will take half an hour.

Those who have the means to leave yet ignore such orders not only foolishly place themselves in potential harm's way, they may also subsequently imperil the lives of those first responders and public safety officers who'd likely have to mount a rescue effort were matters to go seriously awry, as matters so often do in a situation such as this.

Personally, if my own instincts were telling me that my mother was acting both selfishly and unwisely in the face of such an imminent threat, I would dispense with any filial obligation to defer to the wisdom of one's parents, and I would physically remove her from the premises, even if I had to do so with her kicking and screaming. I love her too much to countenance any such nonsense, and it's always better to be safe than sorry.