Hurricanes' bigger issue is not the winds, but flooding. Due to the location of USNA, and Irene expected to be slowing moving = lots of rain, plus wind, will flooding be a huge issue?
Generally, every ship has a hurricane plan. If the ship is not in a protected port, the ship will get underway and find a port of refuge or stay out and avoid, as much as it can, the storm.
Other CG ships in the area are safe harboring at the submarine base in Groton. Not sure if that includes the Eagle. The submarines are busy preparing to get underway.
Well we just got the internet back here at CGA...all cadets were locked in Chase Hall since 2200 last night. As for Eagle...well, they hit the bridge while trying to sail underneath it The navigation lights fell from the foremast and hit the deck. Gotta say most cadets found it hilarious and a few were disappointed that it didn't sink! Other than that...it went okay.
According to the charts, its typically about 8 inches of clearance. Captain thinks there was a misprint on the chart. They accounted for an increase in water due to flooding so no one really knows what happened. Ah well, mistakes happen. My friend got it on film, its funny to see people's reactions.