But New York City's Bellevue Hospital had to order the evacuation of some 500 patients after back-up electricity failed.

BBC: Storm Sandy: Obama surveys devastation in Atlantic City

Do we order a permanent evacuation of the coast to 20 miles inland?

WSJ: The Panic Over Fukushima

Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D), faulted for failing to order the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans in time and for being too slow in getting federal grants to homeowners trying to rebuild, bowed to political reality and decided in March that she would not seek a second term.

NPR: Political Junkie: Jindal, Nation's Youngest Governor

Many people began returning to Louisiana on Tuesday, including to New Orleans, where Mayor Ray Nagin said people who "jumped the gun" by trying to return to the city ahead of the lifting of the evacuation order -- set for midnight -- would be allowed in.

CNN: Louisiana governor: Speed up power grid repairs

Nagin will order a mandatory evacuation if a hurricane of a Category 3 intensity or higher approaches the city, Sneed said.

CNN: Louisiana governor declares emergency ahead of Gustav

In Pasco County, north of Tampa, authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order Tuesday for 2, 000 homes along the Cotee River.

CNN: Debby downgraded to depression after hitting Florida

Local government officials issued an evacuation order for the Swat area Tuesday, ahead of the military operation.

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Note that in order to board one of these flights, you must sign an evacuation agreement stating that you will reimburse the US government for flight costs (equivalent to commercial flight costs).

BBC: Navigating the traveller exodus out of Egypt

In the US, the city of New Orleans has begun enforcing a mandatory evacuation order for coastal districts, or parishes, Emergency officials have warned people in vulnerable areas not to try and ride out the storm.

BBC: Deadly hurricane roars into Cuba

On Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, Kristin Franchock, who stayed in her home with her husband and three children despite an evacuation order, said Monday night their basement was flooded with eight feet of water and their power was out.

WSJ: Sandy Wallops Region

We had a mission a couple of years ago where we had a long-range non-combatant evacuation order.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: V-22: A discussion on the way ahead

In 2005, the city's Louisiana Superdome housed thousands of New Orleanians who couldn't, or didn't, heed the mandatory evacuation order.

CNN: Mandatory evacuations to begin Sunday morning in New Orleans