Point8six
I agree that you should never refuse to operate a flight whilst the limits allow it is what we get paid for and personally I enjoy it when I have to use my knowledge and experience to do it safely.
However there is no way I would won't to be under the path of a CAT 5, look at Ike and Cuba where people have sadly died. This is in a country where they have a well rehearsed evacuation plan since they lost hundred's back in I believe 61 or there abouts and made a commitment to keep their citizens safe.
There is absolutely no need to leave crew in since extreme conditions and the evidence is in Ike only a Cat 3 when it hit and reduced to 2 during its transit. Yet the crew that were there are now been evacuated as with katrina they are not in a fit state to operate due lack of rest and sustenance. So what was the point of leaving them their in the first place!