ORLANDO, Fla. -- Even with Hanna off our eastern coast, Central Florida turned into a haven for evacuees from Gustav. Donice and Philip Schwab were happy to be in Orlando.

"Oh yeah, we weren’t going to stay. It’s a direct hit. Yeah it’s a direct hit," said New Orleans resident Donice Scwab.

They caught one of the last flights out of New Orleans to avoid hurricane Gustav and in 2005, the couple stayed with relatives when they lost their home to Katrina.

"Three years later here we are back again, back flying to Florida," said Scwab.

Orlando bound flights from New Orleans were full with folks from the Gulf Coast and with Central Floridians who were ordered to cut their vacations short.

"Basically, officials stated they wanted us out of town by today," said passenger Charles Davis.

Arriving passengers said the airport in New Orleans was packed with people trying to get out.

"No parking whatsoever. Yeah no parking and people were sleeping all over the place," Davis said.

Many airlines were cancelling flight to New Orleans.

OSCEOLA COUNTY EVACUEE

In Osceola County, one man said he has been through a long journey. It took him 13 hours to get from New Orleans to Osceola County, but his journey started three years ago when Katrina forced him out. After watching the track of Gustav, Tommy Stephenson knew it was time to go.

"My big deal was once it hit a three, we got to get out," said Stephenson.

It's not his first time evacuating that city for a major hurricane.

"We evacuated for Ivan, Katrina and this is the third time we've evacuated. I am tired of evacuating," he said.

Three years ago, his entire family moved to Osceola County to escape Katrina. Stephenson moved back to New Orleans two weeks ago.

"I was going home, I was excited you know. I started a new job and everything seemed to be falling into place," said Stephenson.

Gustav has knocked it all out of place forcing mandatory evacuations. Stephenson said he left Saturday, and it took him 13 hours to get to his parents' home in Poinciana.

He's impressed with the organized effort to get people out before Gustav hits and his mother Cindy was glad he got out quickly.

"I knew he'd get out that wasn't a question and if he didn't I would have went and got him," said Tommy's mother Cindy Stephenson.

Tommy said that as soon as he starts hearing news reports that he can go back, that is exactly what he will do.