Navy considers sending Atlantic Fleet to sea to ride out hurricane

AFP ^ | 09-15-03

[Brian S]

WASHINGTON (AFP) Sep 15, 2003

The US Navy was debating Monday whether to send the Atlantic Fleet out to sea to ride out a powerful hurricane that is expected to hit the US east coast later this week, a US navy spokesman said.

About 70 US navy ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, were in southeastern US ports threatened by Hurricane Isabel, a category four storm packing 240 kilometer (150 mile) per hour winds.

"What they're doing is looking at the storm's track, looking at the storm's speed, trying to see what decision makes the most sense," said Ted Brown, an Atlantic Fleet spokesman at Norfolk, Virginia.

A decision on whether to move the fleet from port was expected later in the day, he said.

The last time the Atlantic Fleet scattered from its main base in Norfolk to avoid a storm was in 1999, he said.

"It's very expensive to get that many ships under way," Brown said.

"We don't want to make the wrong decision, but obviously these ships are much more capable of riding out a storm at sea where they can maneuver around the path of storm than they are sitting at pier where they can do considerable damage," he said.

Not all 70 ships now in port would be able to get underway because some of them are undergoing repair in shipyards, he said.

"Any ship that can get underway, if the order comes to sortie, will get underway," he said.

[Sender]

While we are busy worrying about our Navy, one poster on DU says she hopes the hurricane will take out Pat Robertson and "the major military there (in Norfolk), God can get two in one shot!" Disgusting.

[snooker]

Yep. only a fool would wish a huricane hits anyone. It's a bad scene, having been in several I know first hand.

This storm is a runner, people should leave now. Better to have left early rather than to get caught too near the coast.

They are predicting 20-25 foot waves up and down the eastern seaboard near this storm.

[prairiebreeze]

The DUmmy poster shows she knows nothing of God. Only continues to take for granted the freedom that comes all to easily to her.

BUMP for our Navy!

Prairie

[Robe]

I don't envy them, back in the Day, I was on the Connie and we rode out a typhoon. We were taking Blue water over the bows on to the flight deck.
It was the first time I ever felt the thing REALLY MOVE.

[teletech]

They had better make a decision soon. You don't move that many ships on a moments notice. God protect our Navy men and women and their ships.

[theDentist]

Navy considers sending Atlantic Fleet to sea to ride out hurricane

Tomorrow's headline: Kerry: "Halliburton behind Hurricane to get rebuild contracts"

[LPM1888]

The comment about the military is disgusting but a hurricane taking out Pat Robertson would be ironic justice.

[Sender]

I grew up in St Pete FL and I've been through three minor hurricane hits, can't remember the names. They weren't catastrophies as our home survived all three. But I'll never forget looking out the window and seeing trash cans, debris, even stop signs whistling down the street as if they were paper planes.

[Darksheare]

They better decide soon!

[The Old Hoosier]

She forgets that PETA is also in Norfolk.

[Chief_Airframer]

What A Ride, EH? Biggest seas I saw were taking the Nimitz around the horn in 01.

[Chief_Airframer]

I'm due to report to NAVSTA NORV on 29SEP03. Hope it's still there!!

[snooker]

Well after one huricane I went through in Mississippi, when it was over I went down to the beach and a 160 room Holiday Inn was missing. Back down the raod there was a 25 unit two story apartment building missing. Many others buildings were simply gone as well.

We lived 5 miles inland so the damage at our place was just roof, windows, and a lot of 50 foot pines snapped off.

When a Cat 3 or above comes calling RUN ... inland.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Thank you for a) contributing to this forum and b) for your service on behalf of all of us here in the US of A!

[Orion78]

PING!

[Tank-FL]

Take care .. thoughts and prayers with the fleet!

[RightWhale]

They had better make a decision soon.

They will get some good wind and some seas in any case. They should be preparing to sortie already and they need to leave port at least a day before the main storm arrives. Putting off the decision is yielding control to nature.

[Oztrich Boy]

PETA is also in Norfolk.

She is?. Then this is series!

[BluH2o]

Leaving port in this type of situation is sometimes referred to as getting sea room. Steam out well off shore, monitor progress of the storm and circle back behind it ... time at sea ... maybe three days.