Regarding US Navy ships headed to sea ahead of Hurricane Irene: It is safer at sea than near shore due to storm surge and wave damage.
However, during WWII our fleet got caught in a typhoon off New Guinea in 137 knot winds. Two ships turned over and sunk.
I was almost lost off our carrier the Nassau (CVE-16). I was trying to tie airplanes down on the flight deck. I fell over the side and landed in the cargo net.
It was always exciting on the flight deck.
