Well within the power of the Captain of the Port.
NOAAVisualizations on YouTube
17 Seconds Animated Satellite Images of Hurricane Irene from the beginning
Animated Satellite Images of Hurricane Irene from the beginning - Updated August 27, 2011
Over the past week, Hurricane Irene has battered Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, North Carolina, and is now heading for the major metropolitan areas of the Northeast U.S. Storm surge and flooding are the major concerns for coastal cities and towns, as total rainfall from this storm may exceed 15" in some areas.
Hurricane warnings and evacuations are in effect from North Carolina to Maine.
From tropical wave on August 19th to Category 3 and back down to Category 1 on August 27th, Hurricane Irene's movements are documented here in 30-minute imagery from the NOAA GOES-East satellite.
NOAAVisualizations on YouTube: Hurricane Irene - Updated August 27, 2011
30 knots of wind typically equates to one knot of current. (depending on the above-water-line sail area of that particula vessel). It might be nearly impossible to maintain control of a vessel in close inland waters with 70 knot winds.