US warships steams out of Norfolk to avoid hurricane

WASHINGTON (AFP) Sep 16, 2003
US warships began steaming out of the giant US naval base at Norfolk, Virginia Tuesday to get out of the path of a major hurricane bearing down on the US east coast, a navy spokesman said.

About 70 warships have been ordered to put to sea to ride out Hurricane Isabel away from port, said Navy Chief Journalist Scott Boyle, a spokesman for the US Atlantic Fleet.

Boyle said they were scheduled to leave port every 10 to 15 minutes, and F/A-18 and F-14 fighters based at nearby Oceana Naval Station also have been ordered to disperse to other bases beyond the reach of the storm.

TERRA.WIRE