> We didn't have the manpower to go door to door

This is a good use of local CERT volunteers. My town is having just such an exercise in March - sending CERT volunteers door to door to simulate distributing information to city residents. We'll be handing out flyers to advertise CERT training, but we could be telling people to evacuate.

There are clearly problems other than people leaving home empty handed. If there is a refinery, the refinery itself needs to have plans for fires, explosions, and leaks. Those plans should include agreements with local schools or other places where people can shelter, and the locations should depend on what the problem is. The local police should know where people should go, instead of telling them to go away. Cops, firefighters, and EMTs should be aware of what the problem is and what the planned response is.

And yes, people should have taken their bail out bags. If they didn't, it's a clear indication that there needs to be training. There needs to be a CERT program in that area so that people know what problems they face, what symptoms they may experience in a leak, how to treat victims, and so on.

(And since it's a refinery, they should be using cyalume instead of sparking flashlights and such. :->)