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An estimated 40,000 residents and tourists were ordered out of the beachside town of Gulf Shores, Ala., on Friday, and evacuation was also requested in a flood-prone parish south of New Orleans that is home to 458,000. Mississippi officials planned an announcement later in the day.

Inland-bound traffic along the coast was already growing heavy, and hotels were filling more than 150 miles to the north.

"All day long all of our phones have been ringing. The only thing we can tell people is that we are sold out," said Lasonya Lewis, a desk clerk at a Courtyard by Marriott in Montgomery, Ala.

In Florida, some gas stations had run out of fuel Friday, and cars lined up at those that still had supplies. State officials said fuel supplies and distribution were normal, and dry pumps would be restocked by Saturday.

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