Originally Posted by Randyk47

And that would be true even under the best conditions which obviously was not the case for several hours. I don't know the operating parameters of USCG/Navy rescue helicopters but I'd bet that it's marginal in 100+ MPH winds, 30+ foot seas, and at night. The few videos I've seen on TV and YouTube also makes me think launching lifeboats would have been virtually impossible. Like I said the potential for a monumental disaster was there.