This would be one of those "hot topics" I mentioned in the "ETS Community LTS Plan" thread in Campfire in an urban survival situation.

First off, is the Shelter a Democracy, or a Dictatorship? What do State laws say you can and cannot do? Usually when shelters are opened, and you're expecting help in 48 hours, then a state of emergency has been declared. Any special "powers" given to you or your staff?

Someone in the shelter must be a leader. Maybe that is the Shelter Manager, maybe it's not.

FWIW, a friend of mine is a reserve police officer. He was in a shelter, in full uniform, and was leaving. The shelter manager said "You can't leave!". As he continued to the door the shelter manager grabbed him by the upper arm, hard as he was walking out (wind had died down) and said "You can't leave!!!". He turned around and said "If you touch me again, you'll be leaving with me".