The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason commanding officer, Cmdr. Adan Cruz speaks to media prior to departing Naval Station Norfolk in advance of Hurricane Irene. Vice Adm. Daniel Holloway, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet, ordered Sortie Condition Alpha so the ships could avoid storm damage. Irene’s current track indicates it will pass off the Virginia and North Carolina coasts overnight Saturday as a category II hurricane.