If you heard those booms in Raleigh last night, here’s why
The U.S. Army brought a training exercise to an abandoned Capital Boulevard hotel Thursday night, and residents reported on social media their displeasure at hearing helicopters and booming noises overnight.
The exercise at the former Capital Plaza Hotel “involved the use of simulated munitions and aircraft,” said Raleigh police spokeswoman Donna-maria Harris.
Harris said the training was “coordinated with the City of Raleigh, the Raleigh Police Department, and appropriate agencies and property owners.”
The Army notified residents Thursday afternoon about the exercises, which kicked off about 11:45 p.m. that night, Harris said.
The signs, posted on social media, said the training would occur between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and cautioned that there would be “loud noises, helicopter flyovers, and simulated weapons fire. The city manager and the Raleigh Police Department are aware, and Raleigh SWAT will be present. If necessary, a uniformed officer or a military representative will be available to answer your questions.
“We apologize for any disturbance this might cause,” the note said.
Despite the notification, several residents complained on social media about the noise.
“Sooo... I can’t sleep because there are helicopters circling, massive booming noises and machine gun fire for over an hr in the Brentwood area of Raleigh,” a Facebook user posted at 12:40 a.m.
Some residents reported they didn’t receive the heads up about the training, reports ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.
“Raleigh Police notified very little of Brentwood,” one Twitter user commented on a post from Steve Daniels, a co-anchor at ABC11.
Another Twitter user said she was glad to find what was behind the noise.
“Wow this really had my kids and I freaked out!” the user said, also on Daniels’ post.
The Army could not be reached immediately for comment.
Army exercises and simulations, especially the kind that rattle windows, aren’t unusual in Fayetteville and surrounding areas near Fort Bragg, but they’re not often observed locally in urban settings.
The Pilot in Southern Pines reports that Robin Sage, a Special Forces training exercise that spreads throughout numerous central North Carolina counties, is March 8-23. In Robin Sage, the concluding part of Special Forces Qualification Training, local residents play roles in the simulation.
This story was originally published March 29, 2019 at 12:43 PM with the headline "If you heard those booms in Raleigh last night, here’s why."
