On 9 November 1962, "Stormes" joined the Cuban Blockade and continued that duty until the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis. She then resumed her regular operations. In August of the following year, "the 780" became the first United States ship to visit Santa Marta, Colombia, since 1880. In the latter part of 1963, she underwent an overhaul. She operated with Task Group Alpha in 1964 until October when she participated in Operation "Steel-pike." Her task group acted as the hunter-killer group that preceded the main body of ships as they crossed the Atlantic.