Nah... it would be even more dangerous to ride in that mess unhooked with no depower.

Two solutions:

1) Know what the weather is going to do (the previous day is a good clue).

2) Ride straight out and stay out. Minimize your chances of being caught in the gust.

You are right he did what 90% of us would do.... heck a bunch of us have been doing it for the past two weeks 10 to 30, like clockwork at 6pm.