Before Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast Monday, thousands of people were evacuated from New Orleans’ area hospitals and nursing homes. But some nursing homes and hospitals decided to keep their patients in the hospital, saying that moving would do more harm that good.

Lane Regional Medical Center evacuated 56 patients to other hospitals, spokeswoman Julie Madere told the Associated Press late Tuesday. A hospital north of Baton Rouge experienced a similar situation after its backup generator failed Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press, officials estimated that almost 700 patients in a dozen Louisiana hospitals may have to be evacuated. Officials fear that the hospitals would have to be evacuated because they don’t have air conditioning.

Louisiana officials also warned residents to remain out of the city until at least later this week.

Officials evacuated more than 1 million residents along the coast from Alabama to Texas. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin called it “the storm of the century” and demanded a quick evacuation of New Orleans, meant to protect the city’s residents from the wrath of the hurricane.

Officials reported six deaths related to the pre-storm evacuations. They were critically ill and died of natural causes.

During Hurricane Katrina, Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans evacuated 1,600 people. This year, only 450 patients, staff and family members remained in the hospital. Patients were flown to hospitals outside the area threatened by the hurricane.