My bet is on stupid. Couldn't take the pets, left them with food and water outside where they could relieve themselves, never thinking about a storm surge or flooding. But improvements to the collective IQ would be welcome.
Maybe, but that is a level of stupid that would be hard to achieve. If they are running away because they fear for their safety, why would they chain up a dog and leave? They must have some idea of what they are doing.
I know for a fact that there are boat-owners praying that their boat gets destroyed in the storm. They are crap boats in need of repair and they can't sell them. So, they tie them up where they think the storm is going to hit and hope for the best.
Whether or not this same philosophy applies to dog owners, I can't say.