Explanation for mysterious noise heard in Rockport, Tell City

ROCKPORT, IN (WFIE) - Residents of Rockport and Tell City now have an explanation for loud, mysterious noises they hear late Wednesday night.

They say they heard the noise around 11:00 p.m. and that it sounded like a jet engine.

On Friday, Big Rivers Electric Corporation told 14 News they had a power outage that night and it caused smoke stacks at their Hawesville location to blow out steam.

Big Rivers spokesperson, Mary Littrel, says that is a common safety procedure that does make a loud noise resembling a jet engine.

"We had a unit trip," says Littrel. "When that occurs, we do have certain safety devices. And when those act the way they should, which it did that night, it releases that pressure, which is steam pressure, to take the pressure away from our furnace, which happens to mimic the sound of a jet engine."

Some speculated the noise stemmed from an overnight military procedure, but there was no evidence leading to that.

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