Sriram, a member of the Yuvajuna Sangam youth group in the Uddanam village of Srikakulam district, said residents had heard the evacuation announcements on TV and were prepared to leave.
Chief Schmitt said evacuation sirens and announcements in Sitka came shortly after the quake, prompting the temporary rush by residents to higher ground.
In the Rockaways, 7,000 patients and residents had already been evacuated, the mayor said, adding that the Police Department was sending vehicles to evacuation zones to broadcast announcements that residents must leave immediately.
Russian officials began formulating plans during the summer for an evacuation, but have delayed announcements, analysts say, to avoid signaling a loss of confidence in President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime strategic ally.
The announcement eased fears of widespread evacuations of an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 tenants in 121 such buildings under investigation by the city.
Video: Mayor Michael Bloomberg orders a mandatory evacuation of parts of New York This video shows his announcement and the areas affected.
The announcement about the transit shutdown and the evacuation of what the city called Zone A low-lying areas prompted a cascade of cancellations for Saturday and Sunday: Broadway shows, the Mets' games against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field, the performances by the Dave Matthews Band on Governors Island and the outdoor showing of opera movies at Lincoln Center, among others.
At 9 02 a.m., a further announcement in the south tower advised civilians to begin an orderly evacuation if conditions warranted.
Passengers reported being awakened by the explosion or by an announcement over the ship's public address system ordering them to report to emergency evacuation stations.
Total evacuation is unlikely.
