A method of operating an elevator system, the method comprising: receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; and closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity, receiving an elevator call from a padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); and moving the elevator car to the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f) when the first selected period of time has passed, the remaining capacity is greater than zero, and there is not a second evacuation floor, or the first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero; wherein the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f) is within a selected number of floors away from the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); monitoring, using the sensor system, the remaining capacity of the elevator car; closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a second selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to the selected remaining capacity; characterized in further comprising: receiving an evacuation call from a second evacuation floor after the elevator car arrives at the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); and moving the elevator car to the second evacuation floor when the second selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero. receiving an evacuation call from a first evacuation floor; moving an elevator car to the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the first evacuation floor; monitoring, using a sensor system, a remaining capacity of the elevator car; and closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to a selected remaining capacity, receiving an elevator call from a padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); and moving the elevator car to the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f) when the first selected period of time has passed, the remaining capacity is greater than zero, and there is not a second evacuation floor, or the first selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero; wherein the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f) is within a selected number of floors away from the first evacuation floor; opening doors of the elevator car when the elevator car arrives at the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); monitoring, using the sensor system, the remaining capacity of the elevator car; closing the doors of the elevator car when at least one of a second selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is equal to the selected remaining capacity; characterized in further comprising: receiving an evacuation call from a second evacuation floor after the elevator car arrives at the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); and moving the elevator car to the second evacuation floor when the second selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero. receiving an evacuation call from a second evacuation floor after the elevator car arrives at the padding floor (80b, 80c, 80e, 80f); and moving the elevator car to the second evacuation floor when the second selected period of time has passed and the remaining capacity is greater than zero.