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SONIC FREAKIN' DAMN BOOMS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last summer we went through several weeks of sonic booms, thanks to the air force base 30-40 crow-flying miles from here. A furor went up and we learned that some special jets were flying and they were gearing up for another special kind of jets. The public was assured that this would be addressed and adjusted.
It was. We've had no sonic booms for months.
Until today. There were three booms in the last hour. The first two were AWFUL, especially the second which left me trembling and the dogs all frantic. Jazmyn is afraid of thunderstorms, and she was shaking like a leaf. She walked around with her tail dragging on the ground for 15-20 minutes after the boom, even after I held her and comforted her. The third one was apparently on the other side of the mountain, less powerful, but still startling and disturbing.
I called a couple people who live 10-15 miles away from me, and they had it too, saying that their windows rattled seriously, and one said the whole house shook, including the floor. So I called the air force base. Apparently I wasn't the only one, because the line was busy for several minutes. When I got through, the person taking the call in the Public Relations office said he would pass the information along (actually he said "push it upstairs"). He explained that he was taking information only when I asked a couple questions, so I said I want someone to call me back. He sounded surprised and said that he would need to fill out a form. After getting the information he said that he couldn't guarantee a call back. I informed him that if I don't hear back, I will be calling on a daily basis! HELLO???? I might not get a call back from his superiors???? That's not acceptable!
It is possible that I get the percussions of the sonic booms greater than others because of the elevation where I live. That was one of the big hoohas from last summer. Ruidoso, Cloudcroft are in the higher elevations like I am, and people were having more trouble, and the solution was .... supposedly .... to route the planes over less populated and lower elevation areas. If they are not sticking with their plans/promises they will certainly be hearing from Ms. Lynilu on a regular basis. I may reach first name basis with the PR office down there!
In KC, there is an air force base about the same distance away, but we never .... n.e.v.e.r .... had sonic booms. Different kinds of jets, perhaps, I donno. But c'mon!!
Do any of you live near an air force base? Do you have sonic booms?
PS added at 6:15 PM - I drove to the mailbox to get mail, and when I came back there was a message from a Captain in Public Relations at the air base!! He said he wanted me to be aware that he has my message and will be back with me as soon as he has some information about the noise complaint. And he left me his number to call if I wish to speak with him! I'll be danged. I'll call him tomorrow and thank him for his prompt attention.
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When I lived in Manhattan, we would hear tank booms but no sonic booms. I feel for you, Sadie hate thunderstorms and I'm sure I would find her attempting to get under the couch.
ReplyDeleteMJ, any booms that interfere with life are a problem. The problem here is that there was no warning. A base with tanks might be predictable, but who would have thought of "base noises" when you live this far away?"
ReplyDeleteWell, they'll continue to hear from me!
Keep on fighting call your local media if you dont get answers. Sorry you fell you and I can be loveseat or couch buddies and share ice packs and the remote.
ReplyDeleteask him if hes single and wants to join you for coffee LOL
ReplyDeleteBobbie, I guarantee the local media will/is on it. They were all over it last time!
ReplyDeleteRuth, good idea! But I suspect he's probably too young for this gal. I'd like a guy a bit younger than me, but most military men are retired long before the ages I have in mind! Yet, you never know .......
:D
Growing up in the Torrance/Redondo Beach area of Los Angeles County, we heard the sonic boom every time the space shuttle landed at Edwards Airforce Base. And other jets, too. But they weren't horribly loud I guess because we were at sea level.
ReplyDeleteJen, when I'm in FL at my daughter's place, I see jets fly over all the time (they are 15-20 miles from an AFB there), but I don't remember any earth shattering booms. I don't know if being 7000 ft closer to them here makes a difference, but it makes sense to me. Anyway, I'll wait and see what the good captain has to say when I talk with him.
ReplyDeleteYes definitely thank him for his response! I wouldn't like those booms either. Geez Louise!
ReplyDeletePatti, I just did! Actually he was in a meeting, but I left a message with his "person."
ReplyDeleteThat is good he returned your call so fast. I can't imagine what it sounded like. I am sure it scared the babies. Can you imagine if Ali had heard the booms? He would be in your kitchen cabinets trying to get away.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, Caroline, last year when we were having them, Ali was really shaken up. Even China, who wasn't afraid of thunder, was scared! Hopefully the AF will be on this and make some changes to at least lessen the effect.
ReplyDeleteI live about 12 miles away from our AFB and we have sonic booms on a daily basis at my house. The kind that make me wonder if my house will still be standing in 20 years.
ReplyDeleteWe have some fighter jets stationed here, so they fly over head everyday. At first it used to scare me to death, but after two years of hearing them it's no big deal.
Ohhhh, Michelle, that is not encouraging. Living as far as I do from the base, I never thought it would be a problem. I've asked others, and it isn't a long existing problem. Occasional booms from time to time, so I hear, is the history. That I could live with, but over and over, daily? That will be tough to swallow. sigh.
ReplyDeleteCan you drfown the sonic boom out with a shotgun boom in the tail section as they pass by?
ReplyDeleteHell's bells, walker, by the time I hear them and get to a window or outside, they are long gone!
ReplyDelete