The Navy ships assisting in N.O. relief all left port over the last few days, to get out to open sea, where they can ride the storm out safely. They don't go up the river, they go out to sea. And they have done that. They are pros.
Your right about being pro's. If you ever get a chance ask some of them what percentage of the crew is sick when they go to sea in something like this. The number is staggering. It is a case where a bunch of "Pro" adults have a bunch of kids for crew.