Tel Aviv, Israel ? Hundreds of Israelis fled this seaside city Wednesday, fearing a repeat of the first Gulf War, when Saddam Hussein hurled 39 Scud missiles at Israel. Some of the less concerned chose to sun themselves and sip cocktails, saying nearly 30 months of suicide bombings and other violence have prepared them for the worst.

About 2,400 families from the Tel Aviv area have reserved space in hotels and public buildings being made available in the southern town of Kiryat Gat, Army Radio reported. Eight leading hotels in the Jerusalem area reported a surge of more than 1,500 calls from Tel Aviv residents looking for rooms.

British Airways began canceling its flights to Israel on Tuesday night. Luftansa canceled its Wednesday evening flight from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv and said it would re-evaluate the situation today.

Travel agents reported an increase in reservations out of Israel and advertised cut-rate deals. “War? We’re ready — are you?” read one travel advertisement in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper. “Special prices for packages in Israel and abroad, one-way and open tickets.”

In the first Gulf War, Saddam’s Scuds damaged some buildings in Israel but caused few casualties.

Israeli officials have played down the possibility of another attack, saying Saddam’s arsenal has been depleted. Israel also has two types of anti-missile systems in place — the short-range Patriot and the longer-range Arrow, developed since the 1991 Gulf War.

Israel distributes gas masks to its citizens free of charge, in kits that also have atropin injections in case nerve agents are used in an attack.

The preparations — and the daily grind — have lessened people’s fears.

“We have buses blowing up, we have car accidents and compared to what we go through every day, this is nothing,” said Gal Ganzberg, owner of a beachside pub next to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. “I don’t think there’ll be chemical weapons, but maybe that’s just drunken optimism.”