Booms Rattle Homes Across South Jersey. Here's What They Were

NEW JERSEY - Don’t pick up the phone to call in an earthquake just yet, officials say.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has been conducting loud trainings this month that may be heard towns away – and may prompt police department inquiries from concerned residents.

On Sunday, several South Jersey residents called Gibbsboro police per 6abc, with police reporting “loud bangs” that could be heard “from all over the South Jersey area.”

The ferocious booms turned out to be “high” noise level heavy crew weapons training at the military base, police later confirmed. But the loud disturbances are far from over.

According to the military base’s noise calendar for May, more periods of “high noise” are on the way for central and South Jersey residents.

Starting May 16, “moderate” and “high” noise trainings will be conducted at the facility through the month, save for two “low” noise trainings on May 29 and 31.

“Moderate” noise level trainings include rotary wing aerial gunnery with .50 caliber weapons, rocket fire and rotary cannons. “High” noise level trainings may consist of heavy crew weapons and cratering munitions with mortar live fire, Howitzer fire and cratering charges that can be heard for miles.

Historically, trainings at the base can be heard as far as Burlington, Monmouth, Mercer, Camden and Ocean Counties, according to NJ.com. Overcast, cloudy weather can also cause the sounds to travel further.