I'm in the Charleston area and I need to evacuate soon. I have two choices:

1) Keep my potted figs outside and do my best to protect them from the wind.

2) Take them inside and risk the possibility of them being in the dark for almost a week.

Which is riskier? How long can they live without light?

Put them by the biggest window you have, if that is boarded up, you could leave them under a grow light...even if power fails at least you tried. Weatherbell.com thinks this will hit the Carolinas....so if you must evac. Dont sweat it too much, trees can be replaced, lives can not.

Btw I have put trees in a dark shed for 3 days with no issues.

I'm no expert - but if they lost their leaves wouldnt they likely recover next year?

Hurricane Irma may hit the coast with 180+ mph winds. I'd shelter the figs inside only if time permits but above all evacuate to a place of safety. 

I agree with the other comments.  Put them inside and hopefully they will survive.  Figs can be replaced (we have a lot of generous people).  Please get somewhere safe fast!!!!

Oh I'm gonna get out of Dodge the very second my commanding officer authorizes the evacuation order. Don't worry about that. I just want to give my potted fig trees the best chance of surviving.

Just put them inside in a tray with 1"-2" of water,they'll be fine.
I've shipped some via USPS 8 day Priority Mail<G>which would
mimic your darkness and they landed salvageable despite no added
moisture.

I moved the whole family from the yard and into the garage. I stole a few Mylar blankets from my emergency kit and rearranged my grow lights.

Definitely try to give them some protection. I wish I had moved and protected more of my trees from Harvey. 

For what it's worth: a fig tree was delivered to me from Spain a few years ago in the mid of summer. It has stayed inside a lorry for almost a week, no light, no water, just scorcing heat inside.
Since it was a bargain I did not complain about it when it was delivered. I watered it, put it outside and after just a fortnight, the leaves turned from almost yellow to bright green. Very robust plants, those figs.

They were all pretty thirsty, but they made it.

Irma hit us pretty hard in the upstate.  I was absolutely shocked to see that my in ground fig trees came through with no visible damage.  Did not have space to move all my potted figs inside but was able to put them in a sheltered area backing them into a hedge for support. All came through fine.  Biggest issue for me was finding a safe area where no large limbs could fall on them. Does not sound like much but then I filled up the bed of our pickup truck all the way up past the rear window and up over the roof with fallen branches and debris just clearing a path from our front door to the driveway.  My garden looks like it has been through a food processor and my raised bed of Jerusalem Artichokes was literally ripped up from the ground when the Artichokes were flattened taking down one of the pasture fence lines on their way to ground. Today is our first day with power and I am amazed at how fast the power crews were able restore service. They deserve a big hats off for the 16 hr days they are putting in.

Scott,

Good to see you (and your figs) pulled through.

Marianna,

We had leaf dammage (some pretty bad) only on some cultivars, all will be fine, blessings and prayers for those in much worse circumstances.