The only people who've come out of this particular disaster (in more ways than one)with any credence are the US Coast Guard. Watching the video of the rescue from their point of view, my abiding memory will be hearing the voice (from the auto monitor of the altimeter, presumably) shouting (something like...) "Height, Height, Height"!. I'm guessing that this was because the aircraft was hovering at a steady height but the waves were reaching up to them.
I've been at sea in the tail end of hurricane and stupid enough to be exhilerated by it.
Whoever decided that ship should sail, they had enough warning, for goodness sake, is responsible for deaths and the loss of a remarkable ship.